Life without Aaron Rodgers may be difficult for the New York Jets(1-1) after all.
On Sunday, New York went into Dallas and got beat up by the Cowboys(2-0) 30-10.
It’s hard to win on the road in the NFL and even harder when you turn the ball over four times. Furthermore, it becomes even harder when you can’t protect your quarterback. The Cowboys had Zach Wilson under duress for most of the game and sacked him three times.
Wilson had moments, including a 68-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson. In addition, he was able to use his legs to get away from pressure, and he rushed for 36 yards.
However, Wilson completed 12/27 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh thought Wilson played well for most of the game.
“Up until we had to force it, I thought he did a really nice job,” Saleh said after the loss. “He hit that strike route to Garrett for that big touchdown. I thought he did a really nice job at the end of half, moving the chains, getting some points. It just, like I said, that team, when you have to get into a drop-back game consistently with those guys, it’s not going to be pretty.”
Wilson thought he played well for the first three quarters, but to Saleh’s point, things fell apart for the third-year quarterback in the fourth as all three interceptions came in the final quarter.
“It’s tough, man,” Wilson said. “I thought I was seeing it well for the first three quarters of the game, but we kept getting stopped. There’s always going to be things we can keep cleaning up. But I thought I was seeing it well, at least for the first three quarters. I think when we watch this film, we’ll be able to keep pushing forward on some stuff.”
Wilson is optimistic about the future despite the loss and the struggles on offense.
“We’ve got to be better,” he said. “I need to be better, but we are right there. So, it’s a long season. We’re going to watch this film and see how we can improve. Everyone trusts and believes in each other. Everyone loves each other. We’re excited for the challenge.”
This loss was not on Wilson. Defensively, New York will need this unit to be at their best. Dak Prescott and the Cowboys did not have much resistance from the defense, so again, this unit must lead the way for the Jets.
New York returns home next Sunday to host the Patriots.
Zach Wilson is the man once again for the New York Jets. After Aaron Rodgers was acquired by the Jets in the offseason, Wilson was prepared to be his backup for possibly the next few seasons.
However, things changed quickly in New York after Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in the team’s season-opening win over the Bills on Monday night.
Now, it’s Wilson’s turn again to show the Jets why they should have selected with the second pick in the 2021 draft.
In 2022, Wilson got chance after chance to prove himself, but after a bad performance against the Patriots late in the season, he was benched for Mike White. Ultimately, he would get another shot following an injury to White, but he wasn’t very good.
Some believe Wilson, who will lead the way for the Jets when they travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Sunday, has to gain the trust of teammates, but according to the 24-year-old, that’s not the case.
“I don’t think I need to think of it like that,” he said Thursday. “I think how I can go out there and play football, and I will earn that trust back from those guys. I would say I have a really good relationship with everybody in this locker room, you know, we joke around, we eat lunch together, we go out for O-Line, QB dinners, and so I would always feel like the guys in this locker room have my back just like I have their back no matter what.”
The third-year quarterback spent a decent amount of time around Rodgers in the offseason, and he feels being around the four-time league MVP has made him a better player.
“Absolutely,’ Wilson said. “I feel like I’ve been trying to copy every little thing he’s doing, from his footwork to the coaching tips he’s given us. He does an amazing job, more than we could ask for as quarterbacks.”
On Tuesday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said the Jets are Zach Wilson’s team, which made Wilson feel good.
“It’s good to know he’s(Saleh) got a lot of trust in me,” Wilson said. “As a quarterback, when you’re stepping in, and you feel the belief of the guys around you, it makes you want to go out there and do everything that you can for them, and I think that’s what’s so special about this team. We’re very tight right now, and everything’s been rolling smoothly.”
The Jets look loaded on defense and appear to have a very good team; this is a great opportunity for Wilson, and he knows it.
“Yeah, it’s a special opportunity,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of this team, man. These guys are very special, so doing my job and allowing the guys around me to do theirs.”
The New York Jets started the season with a big win over their division rival, the Buffalo Bills, in exciting fashion after Xavier Gipson had a walk-off 65-yard punt return to propel New York to a 22-16 win in OT at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.
However, there was a more significant story. Four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers played only four snaps after he tore his Achilles tendon while being sacked by Bills DE Leonard Floyd on the team’s first offensive series.
The 39-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh says he’s happy about the win but feels for Rodgers.
“I’m going to enjoy this win,” Saleh said after the game. “Winning in the NFL is hard regardless of who the quarterback is. Personally, I don’t hurt for me. I don’t hurt for our locker room. I hurt for Aaron and how much he has invested in all of this. I’m still going to say a prayer. I’m still going to hold out hope, but my heart is with Aaron right now and no one else.”
Without Rodgers, Jets third-year quarterback Zach Wilson played the rest of the way, and he did just enough. Wilson finished the game by completing 14 of 21 passes for 140 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
Like Saleh, Wilson feels sorry for Rodgers.
“I have so much love for Aaron (Rodgers), so my heart goes out to him,” Wilson said. “I have no idea what’s happened. I have to see what happened for a second, but I know he’ll find a way to keep working to get back, but it’s tough. That hurts us as a team, but my job as a quarterback is it’s my job to step up, and I’ve got to be able to be as efficient as I can in that offense.”
On Tuesday, Saleh made it clear that the Jets were Wilson’s team going forward.
“We are going to look through some things, but I do want to make it very clear: Zach (Wilson) is our quarterback,” he said. “We got a lot of faith in Zach. We’re really excited about his opportunity, but we’re rolling with Zach and excited for him and, like I said, this opportunity he’s going to get.”
You have to feeL for Rodgers. At this point, his career could be in jeopardy. It will be challenging for the 19-year veteran to return from this injury.
Regarding Wilson, this is why you drafted the 24-year-old with the second overall pick in the 2021 draft. However, time will be the judge whether or not he’s ready to lead the way for New York. As we saw on Monday night, the Jets’ defense is as advertised, as they forced four turnovers against the Bills, and it appears to be championship caliber.
New York will probably add another quarterback at some point, and it should be interesting to see what direction they will go in, but at this point, they are all in on Wilson, for better or worse.
After being benched for three games due to ineffective play, Zach Wilson got another shot on Sunday against the Lions, and he gave New York an opportunity to win, but with a chance to tie at the end of regulation, Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 58-yard field goal at the buzzer, and the Jets(7-7) would fall to the Lions(7-7) 20-17 at MetLife Stadium.
New York is one game behind the Dolphins and Chargers for the final two wild-card spots in the AFC.
Wilson, who started for an injured Mike White, did not have a great completion percentage(18/35), but he made a few plays, which helped him end up with 317 yards passing, two touchdowns, and an interception. The second-year quarterback hit on big pass plays, especially in the second quarter, where he had completions of 21, 33, 40, and 50 yards. Wilson threw for 164 yards in the second quarter.
“I thought he had a really good first half,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said about Wilson. “Third quarter, hit some adversity, and then I thought he finished strong, gave us a chance to kick a game-tying kick. But unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had four catches for 98 yards, added on Wilson’s play: “That boy battled, and anytime you come into a game and see the speed of the game, you know when you’re getting man coverage and like you said, you haven’t been in that position in three weeks, it’s going to be tough on you. I thought he handled it really well. He showed a lot of perseverance, especially at the end of the game. Making some of the throws he did and setting in there, it gave us a chance to win the game, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Wilson felt he needed to be better.
“I got to be better, man,” he said. “I think you guys saw it, we had explosive plays offensively, but it’s the first and second down, just staying ahead of the sticks. I can think of a number of plays I left out there. You got to look at it like a learning process, just trying to keep improving every single week, and that’s the goal.”
Sometimes players, especially young players, can benefit from being benched, and Wilson discussed what he learned from his break.
“Yeah, I think the biggest thing I learned is that you just have to be able to move on,” he said. “I miss a throw, have a bad interception, you got to move on. You got to for the guys around you; you just have to say, ‘Alright, next play.’ It’s a learning experience; I learned from that one; I have to get better right here and put my guys in the best position I can.”
Saleh did not commit to Wilson as the starter for next week against the Jaguars. When asked if he felt he deserved another start, Wilson said the following:
“No, I think that’s not up to me. For me, I think it comes back to how can I watch this film, how can I improve, and can I keep trying to put our offense in the best situation to win, and I didn’t do that today.”
Wilson sounds humbled, but he didn’t do enough to warrant another start. If White is healthy, which could be a stretch, he should play.
However, Wilson is still very young(23) and has shown flashes, so he can still grow and become the team’s franchise quarterback, but again, for now, White gives this team the best opportunity to win.
For 59-plus minutes, the New York Jets(6-4) kept the New England Patriots(6-4) out of the end zone, but they could not keep them out of the end zone for the entire 60 minutes as the Patriots’ Marcus Jones returned a punt 84 yards with five seconds left to give New England a 10-3 win over the Jets at Gillette Stadium.
Jones’ touchdown was the first punt return for a touchdown this season.
“Yeah, it’s a crappy way to lose,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “You feel like you’re exchanging blows from a defensive standpoint from both teams, and somebody could just make a play and get it to overtime. They made a play, and we didn’t.”
Jets corner D.j. Reed added: “I’m still in disbelief. Marcus Jones, I know him from college; he went to Houston. Hell of a punt returner, and they gave him a chance. He is a great punt returner, and he got his touchdown. Credit to them for doing that. I’m in disbelief; it’s a tough loss.”
The Jets held the Patriots’ offense to three points and sacked Mac Jones six times. However, New York’s offense was nonexistent, especially in the second half, as they had only two yards of total offense. New York finished the game with 103 total yards. Zach Wilson completed 9 of 22 passes for 77 yards, and New York, in that dreaded second half, had -21 passing yards.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh had a few choice words to describe the team’s offensive performance in the second half:
“It was dog sh*t,” he said.
Like many on the team, Wilson was disappointed by the team’s performance on offense.
“Yeah, it’s super frustrating,” Wilson said. “It was a frustrating day, of course. I feel like I had some balls that got away from me. But we got to find ways on offense. We got to do some digging, watch the film, and see what we can do better.”
Jets rookie wideout Garrett Wilson, who had two catches for 12, did not mince words when talking about the offense.
This s–t’s sorry,” Wilson told reporters. “We’re out here looking sorry, man. We know that we’re not sorry. So that’s why it really hurts. We know that we’re better than that. We can do more.”
Despite the poor effort, Saleh said he had no intentions of bringing in backup quarterback Mike White and is still sticking with Wilson.
“I’ve told you guys before, Zach’s our quarterback, and we’re going to, we’ve got to find ways to help him get better,” Saleh said.
The Jets have not beaten the Patriots since 2010, and this game had playoff implications as New York was swept by the Pats this season. Fortunately for the Jets, seven games are still left, but Wilson and the offense have to be better.
Two things the New York Jets(2-2) know how to do: win on the road and do it in comeback fashion, and they did that on Sunday against the Steelers(1-3).
New York, who won their first game of the season on the road against the Browns in comeback fashion in Week 2, did the same things against the Steelers. The Jets trailed 20-10 in the fourth quarter but scored 14 points in the final stanza to defeat Pittsburgh 24-20 at Acrisure Stadium.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson made his 2022 debut Sunday and led the Jets on two scoring drives in the fourth. It wasn’t all good for Wilson as he threw two picks, but he got the job done when the Jets needed him the most.
The second-year quarterback was 10/12 for 128 yards and a touchdown in the fourth and ended the day 18/36 for 252 yards, a touchdown, and two picks. Also, he had a two-yard touchdown reception in the first half.
“He doesn’t flinch,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said about Wilson after the win. “There was a couple plays that I’m sure he wishes he had back. The young man doesn’t flinch. He got us out of a lot of bad situations with his mobility. I thought he played a pretty good game for his first game back.”
On the final drive for the Jets, the team traveled 65 yards on 10 plays, which ended with a two-yard Breece Hall touchdown. According to Wilson, he knew the offense would score on that drive.
“From the beginning, I think there was no doubt in my mind, especially when we hit a couple quick passes and stuff there, too, and we were running the ball well,” Wilson said about scoring on the final drive. “I feel like as an offense, you can just feel it.”
The Jets finished 3-14 last season and did not win their second game until Week 8 in 2021, and after four weeks, Saleh is really proud of his team.
“It was just a really cool NFL game,” he said. “And for as young as we are, to have the mindset to stay in it, go 60 minutes, again, really proud of the group with the mindset and just exchanging blows with another opponent being 2-2 right now, it’s pretty good. We’ve got a really good chance. But you never know.”
The Jets probably don’t get this win in 2021, but credit the team for fighting hard and getting another tough win on the road.
Notes:
Wilson caught the first touchdown pass of his career as Braxton Berrios connected with him on a two-yard touchdown pass.
‘Yeah, first I hand it, and I see everyone flowing, and I’m like, oh, thank goodness,” Wilson said about the play. “I’ve got the best hands on the team.”
New York Jets coach Robert Saleh made it official today when he announced that Joe Flacco will start at quarterback against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, on Sunday in the season-opener at MetLife Stadium.
According to Saleh, second-year quarterback Zach Wilson(knee) will likely return at the earliest in Week 4 against the Steelers.
The 37-year-old Flacco is grateful for the opportunity to be a starter in the NFL.
“Yeah, I mean, I’ve talked about it a lot. It should be an exciting one,” Flacco said. “Listen, anytime you get a chance to lace them up on Sunday and try to put yourself and the team in the best situation you can; it’s a lot of fun; grateful for the opportunity, but yeah, obviously, there’s going to be some different emotions that I haven’t experienced before with this one…
“I think at the end of the day, it is like every other game once the dust settles and the game gets going. It’s a football game. You’re lining up, and you’re playing against the guy across from you. So, I’ve played it enough to know that at some point, that’s going to be the time; maybe the first snap or two will be even extra kind of crazy feelings that go into it, but after that, I’ve been a part of a bunch of playoff games and all those things, and it’s a football game at the end of the day. It’s just a matter of when it settles in and when you can let your mind calm down a little bit.
The 15-year veteran spent 11 seasons in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens. He last played for the Ravens in 2018, where he would eventually lose his job after injury to current Ravens starter Lamar Jackson, but despite losing his job due to injury, Flacco had no ill will towards Baltimore.
“It’s part of the business, and obviously, your competitive nature has certain feelings about it, but a lot of those things are out of my control to a certain extent,” he said. “Like I said, what I’ve been trying to do ever since then is kind of just keep my head down and work and get better at football and look for the best opportunity.”
This will be Flacco’s last chance to prove that he can still be a starter in the NFL, and fortunately for him, he’ll have at least three weeks to show the Jets he’s still that guy. If he has success, those three games could be even longer.
On Tuesday, the New York Jets placed RT Mekhi Becton on injured reserve after he sustained a season-ending right knee injury on August 8. The 23-year-old Becton injured the same knee in 2021, which caused him to miss 16 games. However, this is a different injury. The No. 11 overall pick out of Louisville was Joe Douglas’ first draft pick as general manager of the team in 2020.
The day before, New York officially signed five-time Pro Bowl LT Duane Brown. The 15-year veteran was around the team during the Green & White practice last Saturday night, and after the injury to Becton, the Jets were expected to sign Brown.
According to reports, it’s a two-year, $22 million deal.
Last season, the 36-year-old had a Pro Bowl season with the Seahawks. While in Seattle, Brown played with current Jets RT George Fant.
Obviously, losing Becton was a big blow to the Jets, but being able to add a Pro-Bowl left tackle in Brown is a solid signing for the team.
In other Jets news, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, quarterback Zach Wilson’s arthroscopic knee surgery was deemed a success. There were no surprises from the original diagnosis. New York reportedly won’t put him on the field until he’s completely healthy.
Wilson hurt his knee while scrambling against the Eagles in the team’s first preseason game. When Wilson’s injury was announced, he was expected to be out 2-4 weeks, so veteran quarterback Joe Flacco will probably be the starter Week 1 for the Jets against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens.
New York returns to the practice field on Thursday as they prepare for their Monday night showdown against the Atlanta Falcons at MetLife Stadium.
The goal of the preseason is to get some good work for your starters and young players and, most importantly, leave the game with no injuries.
Unfortunately, for the Jets in their preseason opener at Lincoln Financial Field against the Philadelphia Eagles, that did not happen.
First, the good news, the Jets defeated the Eagles 24-21. Not ultra important, but good news.
Now, the bad news. Jets second-year quarterback Zach Wilson left in the first quarter and did not return when he injured his right knee after scrambling from the pocket. Wilson tried to cut and his knee slightly buckled. He walked to the locker room on his own power, surrounded by team officials.
At this point, the Jets wait for the MRI on Saturday.
According to Jets coach Robert Saleh, Wilson’s ACL is intact, but he’ll wait until the testing is done.
“I’m always concerned until I get the final evaluation,” Saleh said after the game. “We walked off the field with great, positive thoughts, and it’s been opposite. We’ve walked off the field with bad initial readings, and it was opposite. I’m not going to put anything out there, just let it play out, and we’ll see tomorrow.”
Wilson’s injury seemingly could have been avoided if he had run out of bounds on his scramble instead of trying to cut back inside. When asked if Wilson should have gone out of bounds, Saleh said, “One hundred percent.”
Saleh did say Wilson was in good spirits.
“He’s in good spirits,” Saleh said. “He’s fine, a little frustrated obviously, but he’s as good as you can be in this situation.”
If Wilson is lost for the year, at this point, the 37-year-old Joe Flacco, who did not play Friday night, would be the guy. Recently, Saleh said Flacco is still a viable starter in the NFL.
“You guys know how I feel about Joe, everyone does, the whole world does,” he said. “Joe’s a phenomenal football player. He’s having a great camp, and he’s got a lot of juice left in the tank.”
It’s been a rough week for New York as they lost RT Mekhi Becton, probably for the year, with a leg injury, and now Wilson, who missed four games last season with a sprained PCL in his right knee.
Hopefully, good news is on the way for the Jets.
Back to the game, quarterback Chris Streveler would connect with WR Calvin Jackson on a five-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left to give the Jets the win. Streveler finished the game 6/9 for 62 yards and two touchdowns.
The New York Jets had their Green & White Practice Saturday under the lights at MetLife Stadium.
It was an opportunity for the team to connect with the fans and an opportunity for the Jets to continue to get some good work in as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.
Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson had some decent moments in this scrimmage. According to Newsday’s Al Iannazzone, Wilson was 12/19 for 100 yards, touchdown, interception.
Jets coach Robert Saleh was happy with Wilson’s performance.
“I really thought it was really good,” Saleh said. “He dropped a dime over a buzz defender’s head in the second half there, and I thought it was a chance to keep the drive going, had a really good strike there in the two-minute drive. I think it was to Corey (Davis). He moved around in the pocket, found some open lanes to run in, and bide some time. He was really good in the huddle, just standing back there listening to him. He was good with cadence because he was changing up his cadence. So, I thought he was really good.”
One guy that stood out at the scrimmage was fifth-year tight end Tyler Conklin, who Wilson has been connecting with throughout training camp.
According to the New York Post’s Brian Costello, Conklin had four catches Saturday night.
Saleh was happy with Conklin and the rest of the Jets’ tight ends.
“Conk (Tyler Conklin) is awesome, he’s been fantastic for us,” Saleh said. “Him and C.J. (Uzomah), they’ve been really good. (Trevon) Wesco has been really good, (Lawrence) Cager has been really good. The whole group really has been really good for us, but as far as he’s concerned, just his ability on third down to create separation and win those one-on-one’s and be a run blocker, he’s an all-around tight end. He’s been a pleasant surprise.”
There were drops by some of the Jets wideouts, but it’s nothing that is concerning to Saleh.
I could make excuses,” he said. “We’re professionals; we got to make plays. But, at the same time, just talking to the guys, the first time you’re in the stadium, the depth perception is much different. So, you have to retrain your eyes for all of that, too. Not to make excuses for them; it’s a real thing, and just adjusting to all of it. That’s why we had these scrimmages here. That’s why we have preseason games, so we can get acclimated to everything. Overall, I even thought the receivers battled a lot in man coverage, won some one-on-ones, and overall, a decent day from that group.”
New York gets back to the practice field on Monday.
