Jets QB Zach Wilson leaves preseason opener with right knee injury
The Jets' Zach Wilson walks on the sidelines after he is taken off the field following an injury during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Eagles on Friday in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
PHILADELPHIA — The Jets are holding their collective breath as they await the results of Zach Wilson’s MRI.
The second-year quarterback suffered a non-contact right knee injury in the Jets’ 24-21 preseason victory over the Eagles on Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
Robert Saleh wouldn’t reveal much about what he was told by the doctors other than the ACL “is supposed to be intact.”
“Until they dig, they won’t know,” Saleh said.
Earlier this week, Saleh sounded optimistic that Mekhi Becton would be OK after the initial tests on his knee. Further testing revealed that he suffered a fractured kneecap and is out for the season.
The Jets obviously hope they avoided a worst-case scenario with Wilson, but Saleh doesn’t want to say anything until he knows for sure.
“I just want to let it all play out,” he said. “I’ll keep saying my nightly prayers and see what happens.”
All of the optimism surrounding the Jets came to a screeching halt when Wilson got hurt on the Jets’ second series.
He was scrambling, and as he made a cut, his knee appeared to buckle. He came up limping and fell to the ground seconds later. Tight end C.J. Uzomah then waved for the trainers to check on him. Most of the starting offense took a knee around him.
Wilson stayed down for a few minutes before walking off on his own. He still was limping as he headed to the sideline and immediately went to the locker room to get checked further. It’s the same knee that he sprained last year, an injury that kept him out for four games.
“We’re just going to pray that he’s all right,” receiver Corey Davis said.
Wilson was seen in the locker room, limping and with a stoic look on his face. He wasn’t made available to the media. Saleh said he was “in good spirits” but also “frustrated.”
On the play, Wilson avoided defensive end Tarron Jackson, who easily got past rookie right tackle Max Mitchell, who started for Becton. Wilson got to the outside and, instead of running out of bounds, made a move with linebacker Nakobe Dean in pursuit. Wilson then dived to the ground untouched after his knee buckled.
Saleh said Wilson “100%” should have gotten out of bounds.
“Just run your butt out of bounds,” he said. “He got a little greedy, wanted to get a little more . . . Hopefully we’re still in good shape.”
Wilson was replaced by Mike White. Joe Flacco is the Jets’ backup quarterback, but he wasn’t in uniform Friday night.
Flacco has had a good camp. Saleh said he believes Flacco still is a starter in the NFL and reiterated that Friday.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s name could come up if Wilson’s injury is serious. Garoppolo, who is available, knows offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s system as well as anyone. He played in it in San Francisco the past five years.
Coming into the game, Saleh said the plan was for Wilson to play a series or two. It ended up being two because Wilson and the Jets didn’t have a good first drive.
He overthrew Garrett Wilson for what should have been an easy completion on his first pass attempt. On his third, he made an ill-advised throw to Davis that was picked off by Kyzir White.
That poor showing earned Wilson and the starting team another series.
It started with a 4-yard completion to Tyler Conklin and Wilson hitting Elijah Moore for a 10-yard gain on a slant on third down. Then came the play on which Wilson was injured.
“I’m always concerned until you get the final evaluation,” Saleh said. “We’ve 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’s been the opposite. I’m not going to put anything out there, just let it play out, and we’ll see tomorrow.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
