If Jets aren't making a change at QB, then the QB needs to change
Zach Wilson of the Jets throws a pass against the Patriots during the second half at Gillette Stadium on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Credit: Getty Images/Adam Glanzman
FOXBOROUGH, Mass.
Robert Saleh already has committed to Zach Wilson for this season. In the gloom of the previous loss to the Patriots a little less than a month ago, when the second-year quarterback’s mistakes sunk the Jets and riled up the fan base, he said he would be sticking with him.
On Sunday, after the Jets lost to the Patriots, 10-3, in a game in which they mustered only 103 yards of offense and gained an embarrassing 2 net yards in the second half — there was more snow piled up in Buffalo this weekend than the distance the Jets moved the ball in 30 minutes of play — Saleh said pulling Wilson was “the furthest thing” from his mind.
Assuming that’s truly the case, it’s hard to imagine any situation more dire that this one in which the coach would yank him.
That leaves only one option if the Jets are to reach their potential this season and start to back up their Super Bowl-caliber defense with some points in critical games.
If they’re not going to change quarterbacks, then the quarterback must change.
Not only for the sake of wins, but for the sake of the psyche of the rest of the team.
Sunday featured the first indications of something more than a collective frustration from the other offensive players. This time their ire clearly seemed to be aimed at Wilson and his ineptitude.
It began in the third quarter when Wilson threw a third-and-8 pass to Denzel Mims that was low and behind him — and Garrett Wilson flung his arms because he was open but unseen by the quarterback.
Later in the third quarter, Wilson sidearmed a screen pass to Mims that sailed over his head; Mims gestured and seemed to have some words for the quarterback.
Saleh played that off as “heat of the battle” emotions. “I don’t think it’s indicative of their feelings,” he said.
That might not be accurate.
In what had to be one of the quietest postgame locker rooms in NFL history, Garrett Wilson spoke out about the way the receivers are being used — or, more accurately, misused — and what has to be done about it.
“We can do more,” he said. “We have to put some more trust in our receiver group. We can go out and make plays and do things. I don’t know if everyone feels that way. But hopefully by the time next week [comes], everyone feels that way.”
There was more.
“Everybody has to take that responsibility and build each other up and come ready to work,” he said. “Have to have a plan. We can’t just be passively working, You can’t just be in the facility and have that be enough. You have to find something to get better at, especially in the passing game. I’m gonna tell it like it is. We have to get better in the passing game if we want to be where we want to be at. We know we can be there. That’s the most frustrating part.”
He didn’t name names, and there was a sense of collective in his remarks.
“No one wants to feel like this, but that’s not enough,” he said. “You’ve got to do something about it. I feel this is a wake-up [call] for some of the people in the facility. For us in the facility to get on our details.”
Asked whom he was referring to, he said: “All of us.”
You probably don’t need three guesses whom he was talking about, though.
At least Garrett Wilson recognizes there is an issue. His quarterback seemed to take none of the responsibility for this loss. When he was asked about his play, he spoke about the weather (“It was windy as hell out there”) and the fact that the Patriots weren’t flinging the ball down the field either. Mac Jones didn’t complete a pass longer than 26 yards, true, but he also was 23-for-27 for 246 yards; Wilson was 9-for-22 for 77.
This was a game that ultimately was decided by a punt returned 84 yards for a touchdown with five seconds left and several of those who missed tackles verbally flogging themselves.
Zach Wilson? He was asked if he felt he and the offense, which managed only three points, let down a defense that allowed only three points.
“No,” he said. “No.”
If Saleh is not going to bench Wilson (he’s not) and Wilson is not going to own up to his mistakes (he hasn’t), it’s hard to foresee this season going the way it could.
The way it probably should.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
