New York Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks had no problem dismissing Baker Mayfield’s recent comments about their recent meeting.
Mayfield singled out Wilks after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Jets in a 29-27 comeback during their Week 3 game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fl. The Buccaneers quarterback said he was extra motivated facing the Jets because Wilks “was the one who cut me in Carolina.”
Wilks was asked about Mayfield’s remarks on Friday during his weekly media availability. He responded by pointing out that he was only the interim coach of the Panthers at the time, and certainly would not have traded away Christian McCaffrey if he had any meaningful say over personnel in that role.
“I don’t think an interim coach has much say over personnel. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey,” Wilks told reporters, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.
Wilks became Carolina’s interim coach after Matt Rhule was fired on Oct. 10, 2022. McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers ten days after that.
On the other hand, Mayfield had been passed on the depth chart by both Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker before being granted his release in December 2022. Even if the roster move was not Wilks’ call, the choice to essentially demote Mayfield to third string presumably was.
Both men arguably have a point. Wilks certainly did not seem to have much faith in Mayfield, but the quarterback had gone 1-5 in six starts with the Panthers before losing his starting job. The pairing did not work, and there should not necessarily be any hard feelings, but Mayfield is the type to use that sort of thing as fuel.
