Jets make it clear: When Zach Wilson is ready, he's the starting QB
Zach Wilson of the New York Jets reacts after a first down during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 26, 2021. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Say it ain’t Joe.
Robert Saleh said the Jets will turn the franchise back over to Zach Wilson when he’s healthy and cleared to play football, even if Joe Flacco has the offense rolling.
“Zach’s the future of the organization, we all know that,” Saleh said before practice Wednesday. "As soon as the doctors clear him, we’ll get him on the field.”
It’s certainly no secret that Wilson is the future, but Saleh has praised Flacco since training camp. Saleh was criticized for sticking with him after an unimpressive performance in Week 1 against Baltimore. Flacco rewarded that faith by leading the Jets to a stunning comeback win Sunday in Cleveland.
Saleh called Flacco “a really good quarterback,” and intimated he was a “great one.” Yet when Saleh was asked if there is any wiggle room to stick with the hot hand if Flacco is playing well and the Jets win again Sunday against the Bengals, he laughed but didn’t change his response.
“I don’t want to be a broken record,” Saleh said. “I’ll be happy to answer that question a million times over when Zach is healthy and ready to go. Zach is the future of the team.”
Flacco will lead the Jets’ offense on Sunday, perhaps for the last time. Wilson is recovering from a right knee injury he suffered in the preseason. The earliest he will be able to play is Week 4 in Pittsburgh.
The 37-year-old Flacco understands his inevitable fate. Being the consummate pro, Flacco hopes he leaves the offense in great shape when it gets handed back to Wilson.
“I’m really excited that we won last week, and I was able to be a part of that,” Flacco said. “Hopefully I can do the same (this) week.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had the last two weeks and this upcoming week to put our team in a position to win or put our team in hopefully a position to be in a good spot moving forward for the rest of the year. That’s my job, that’s what I can do and I’m happy about it.”
Wilson, who suffered a bone bruise and had his knee scoped to trim his meniscus last month, is doing more in practice this week. Saleh said they would ramp up Wilson’s individual work. He’s still not cleared to take part in 11-on-11 drills.
The Jets drafted Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick last year. They are confident in his ability to develop into a franchise quarterback that can consistently lead the team to the playoffs. Wilson hasn’t proven that yet and needs the experience and reps to become that player.
Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP, was the right quarterback to lead the Jets last week through a wild finish in Cleveland when emotions were high. Flacco’s steady temperament kept the Jets grounded and focused as they pulled off the miraculous comeback from 13 points down with 1:55 remaining.
“He’s a calming force,” Saleh said.
The Jets were the first team in 21 years to win a game after trailing by that point total with two minutes or less to go. Flacco threw two touchdown passes in the last 1:22 and four overall – which was one shy of his career high. The last time he threw four TDs was in 2016 when he was the Ravens starter.
Saleh said fourth-quarter comebacks are difficult, yet easier when you have a quarterback like Flacco.
“I do think Joe’s a really good quarterback,” Saleh said. “He’s seen everything … So, when we got that onside kick, he knew exactly where he needed to go with the ball because he already knew what was going to happen. The great ones can see that.”
The Jets believe Wilson can become a great one. He needs to play, though. Flacco has come to accept his role at this point in his career.
“This is the ultimate team sport,” Flacco said. “When your number’s called, you step up and you do your job. That’s all you can control so that’s all that you worry about controlling. As long as we do that week in and week out, I think we’re going to find ourselves in a lot of good situations.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
