Zach Wilson proved himself to Jets coaches with performance against Kansas City
Zach Wilson of the Jets throws a pass during the second quarter against Kansas City at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Zach Wilson may have saved his job with his performance against Kansas City in Week 4. The Jets coaches began to trust him then.
Robert Saleh indicated on Monday that the Jets opened up the playbook against Kansas City to see what Wilson could do. When he had the best game of his career in a three-point loss to the reigning Super Bowl champs, Wilson proved himself to his coaches.
“That trust level started that Kansas City game,” Saleh said during a Zoom call. “From a game-plan standpoint it’s been an open book with him starting with the Kansas City game where it was, ‘All right, let’s see what he’s got.’ He’s proving it. He’s proving it week in and week out and he’s doing a really nice job.”
Wilson completed 28 of 39 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City. Had Wilson played poorly, the Jets might have turned to Trevor Siemian, who was signed to the practice squad that week.
The Jets were projected by many to be a Super Bowl contender this season after acquiring Aaron Rodgers. He tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into their first game. That put all the pressure on Wilson to lead this offense. He struggled doing that in the past and earlier this season.
The week before the Kansas City game, the offense looked stuck in mud in a 15-10 loss to New England. The Jets totaled just 171 yards of offense. People outside the building, including Jets legend Joe Namath, ripped Wilson and clamored for him to be benched.
The Jets weren’t ready to do that, but Wilson had to show them they could trust him.
They let Wilson throw the ball more against Kansas City, looking to see signs that he could handle more. Wilson set career highs with his completions and passer rating (105.2). It was the first time in his career (25 starts at that point) that Wilson threw two touchdowns in a game without an interception.
“As far as game-planning and trying to figure out, we’re not trying to hide Zach at all,” Saleh said. “We’re letting him play football and the play designs and the game plan is one for a our quarterback that we trust.”
The Jets (3-3) returned from their bye Monday, riding a two-game winning streak into Sunday’s game against the Giants. The Jets’ defense played large parts in the two wins, especially the Week 6 victory against the Eagles. But Wilson did enough in both games to help the Jets.
They scored on 11 of 21 possessions (nine field goals and two touchdowns) in those two games. Wilson has turned the ball over just once in the last three games.
The improvement he’s shown on and off the field has also helped him gain trust with his teammates. Wilson was benched twice last season, and upset his teammates, particularly the defense, when he didn’t take accountability for a 10-3 loss in New England. They have his back now.
“He came into a really tough situation [this season] with a lot of expectations, and I feel like he’s been doing a really good job handling it,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “He could have been out of the league by now. There could have been so much stuff that could have happened. You see him right now leading our team."
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Rodgers have been calming and steadying influences for Wilson, who looks much more comfortable than he ever has playing in the NFL.
Saleh said Wilson is a much different player in practice this year than last, and as a result everything is different, including the way he carries himself.
“I think he knows that he can play this game,” Saleh said. “I think he feels his teammates around him know that he can play football and that he can play at a high level so he feels the confidence that his teammates have in him also. It’s very easy to hold yourself accountable when you know people have your back.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
