Jets name starting QB for Week 14
Jul 27, 2021; Florham Park, NJ, United States; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh talks with the media on training camp report day at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Jets are making another quarterback change in Week 14.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Wednesday that Zach Wilson will start on Sunday against the Houston Texans. Saleh said Wilson is “fired up” to have another opportunity after being benched a few weeks ago.
“Zach gives us our best chance to win. We’re giving him another opportunity to go prove that,” Saleh said. “He was good. He was fired up. On Monday, he came into my office (and said) he wants the ball.”
"He's fired up."
Coach Saleh on QB Zach Wilson pic.twitter.com/8aD2ggbZft
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 6, 2023
The switch back to Wilson is noteworthy in the wake of a report on Monday that Wilson was reluctant to resume his starting role and did not want to risk getting injured. That same report, which was from Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, claimed Aaron Rodgers had to speak with Wilson in an effort to urge his teammate to accept the starting job again.
As expected, Rodgers ripped the report and called it character assassination. The 39-year-old said Wilson wants to play. Rodgers also said the Jets have a problem that needs to be addressed if leaks are coming from within the organization.
Saleh also denied the report and said Wilson never expressed that he does not want to play.
Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has been benched multiple times by the Jets. The latest benching came during New York’s 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11. The Jets announced a few days later that Tim Boyle would start in Week 12. Not only that, but they completely demoted Wilson by making Trevor Siemian the primary backup behind Boyle.
Boyle was benched for Siemian during last Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. The Jets then cut Boyle this week.
Wilson may have felt that there is no sense risking injury when the Jets seem to have given up on him. If that was, in fact, his mindset, he apparently had a change of heart.