Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson managed to climb the New York Jets depth chart, although he is still nowhere near the place he wants to be. The Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Wednesday that Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will be the team’s backup signal-caller for the upcoming game against the Detroit Lions.
Saleh made the decision after facing several question marks on the position to begin the week. The starter Mike White is dealing with a rib injury after taking a beating in a 20-12 loss to Buffalo Bills in Week 14 and is limited in practice. Veteran Joe Flacco, on the other hand, had a disastrous showing during his cameo versus the Bills and didn’t seem like a viable option in case of emergency.
When the Jets drafted Wilson last year, they envisioned him as their quarterback of the future. However, the BYU product has failed to show he can be that so far in his pro career. Wilson struggled in his seven starts in 2022, throwing for 1,279 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions. This included 77 passing yards outing against the New England Patriots in Week 11 that got him not only benched but also moved to third-string QB.
Reportedly, Wilson has improved since the humbling experience and has looked better in practices in recent weeks. But it appears that Saleh has no intention of circling back to him as a starter. The coaching staff is pleased with how White has been playing and will continue to trust him if he’s able to play.
