Jets' Zach Wilson out at least another week; Joe Flacco will start Sunday
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson sits on the bench during practice before a preseason game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
Zach Wilson will do more in practice this week, but coach Robert Saleh said the quarterback, who is rehabbing from a knee injury, won’t take the field in a game before Week 4 in Pittsburgh.
“It’s the earliest that we were given,” Saleh said. “He is progressing very well. I don’t want to talk for the doctors. It’s the earliest, but we are confident that he’s looking really good. So we’ll see.”
Joe Flacco will start for the third straight game on Sunday against the Bengals.
Wilson, who suffered a bone bruise and a meniscus tear in his right knee in an Aug. 12 preseason game in Philadelphia, returned to the practice field last week for the first time.
He did individual work, threw to receivers and took part in some 7-on-7 drills. He appeared to be moving well but hasn’t been cleared for contact yet. He will be re-evaluated in the near future.
“He’ll take another step,” Saleh said. “It’s not going to be much different, but he’s still going to be in practice and he’s progressing very well. I like the way he’s moving. We’ll ramp him just a touch more, get to the re-evaluation and make decisions on how he needs to proceed from there.”
Davis delivers
Ashtyn Davis had not played a defensive snap all season before he was put into Sunday’s game as part of the “last two package.” His job was to stand near field-goal range on the Jets’ side of the field and jump anything that was thrown in front of him. Davis did, and made the clinching interception with 12 seconds remaining.
“He executes it perfect and you trust a guy like him because he’s going to do things exactly the way you want them to be done,” Saleh said. “Really pumped for him.”
Conklin kicking himself
Tyler Conklin was beating himself up Monday for fumbling for the second straight week. The tight end was fortunate that the ball was recovered by the Jets both times — Garrett Wilson in Week 1 and tackle Max Mitchell on Sunday.
“Ball security is something that I’m usually pretty damn good at, and I haven’t been these first two games,” Conklin said. “It’s something I got to get figured out. It’s not acceptable and I’ve been hard on myself about it, been beating myself up all day, to be honest. I owe Max dinner for that one and I’ll get that [expletive] straightened up.”
Two-minute drill
Tight end C.J. Uzomah, who missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, will be a game-time decision this week, Saleh said. The Jets suffered no injuries in the game.
“We came out healthy with a W,” Saleh said. “That’s about as good as you can get it.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
