Zach Wilson has gone from QB2 to QB1 to QB3 and now back to QB1 after head coach Robert Saleh named him the starter for Week 14 against the Houston Texans.
Just three weeks after being benched against the Buffalo Bills in Week 11, the Jets are turning back to Wilson after benching Tim Boyle during the Week 13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Boyle was released this week as the team signed Brett Rypien.
Wilson is “fired up” as Saleh put it and is ready to have some fun.
“I was excited,” Wilson said about his reaction to hearing the news from Saleh that he is starting. “I think any opportunity that you get in this League is a good one. I think more than anything, the love and care I have for these guys, especially this year.
“For some reason, it has been challenging, I think everyone has felt that, but I am extremely excited to get back on the field with these guys.”
The Athletic reported earlier in the week Wilson was reluctant to return to the starting lineup, citing a concern over a potential injury risk. Wilson shot down those reports, saying he did meet with Saleh before the head coach met with the media Monday.
“Yeah, I was already in there [with Saleh] that morning,” Wilson said. “We were catching up on some other stuff and the opportunity just got brought up and I told him I wanted the ball, that I appreciate him, and I think any opportunity is a good opportunity and to take advantage of it.”
Wilson added he loves the players in the locker room and would do anything for them. “I think any time you have an opportunity to step onto this field, you need to take advantage of it.”
Wilson will make his 10th start this season. He is 3-6 with six passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. The offense took even more of a nosedive in the last two weeks with Boyle starting and Wilson as the No. 3 quarterback.
Boyle threw just one touchdown pass and the Jets totaled 19 points in losses to the Dolphins and Falcons — cornerback Brandin Echols had a pick-six against the Dolphins.
Saleh said Wednesday Wilson gives the Jets the best chance to win. He was simply looking for a spark with either Boyle or Trevor Siemian. It never happened. Wilson now gets five more games — Saleh said barring injury Wilson will start the rest of the season — to salvage his career. New York finishes against Houston, Miami, Washington, Cleveland and New England.