Zach Wilson to back up Mike White for Jets against Lions

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Zach Wilson is getting a promotion. It doesn’t mean he’ll be back on the field, though.

Robert Saleh picked Wilson to be Mike White’s backup Sunday against the Lions. Wilson spent the past three weeks as scout team quarterback and has been inactive on game day. Joe Flacco will be the No. 3 quarterback.

“Zach’s been doing a great job,” Saleh said before practice Wednesday. “He’s been deliberate in his approach over the last three weeks. He’s been holding himself accountable with regards to how he wants to attack practice, how he’s been performing in practice, going against our defense - which I think is a pretty good defense to go against - and working on all the different things that we’ve been asking him to accomplish.”

White was limited in practice due to the rib injury he suffered Sunday in Buffalo. Saleh said the Jets are preparing as if White will play Sunday. If White can’t go, Wilson said he would be ready.

“Yeah absolutely,” he said. “That’s my job as a quarterback is to make sure I’m always ready to go and try to put this team in the best position possible.”

Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick last year. was 5-2 as a starter this season. But he struggled to move the offense. Wilson has thrown four touchdown passes, one more than White, who has played four fewer games.

Wilson lost his starting job following a 10-3 loss in New England on Nov. 20. He threw for only 77 yards and led the offense to just 2 yards in the second half.

After the game, Wilson was asked if he felt he let the defense down. He responded, “No. No.” It rubbed some Jets the wrong way. Wilson addressed the team three days later and apologized for his play and not publicly holding himself accountable.

When making the move to White, Saleh said they wanted Wilson to “reset” and work on his fundamentals. He’s been doing that while running the practice team. Wilson has worked extra after practice with quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese, the former East Islip star.

Wilson said it’s “frustrating” not playing on Sundays, but he’s trying to focus on doing everything he can “to put myself in the best position to help this organization and this team.”

He also said it’s been “valuable” working against the Jets’ defense and watching White play in this system.  The mental break has been rewarding too.

“The biggest thing for me mentally was finding the fun in football,” Wilson said. “I love this game. It definitely was not lost. But I think you guys felt the frustration over some of those rough games. I love this game. I’d play this game for free.”

Wilson still thinks he’s the future of the Jets.

“Yeah, I definitely believe in myself,” Wilson sad. “I have all the confidence in the world. I think that’s how it should be, but you’ve got to be able to prove that.”

Saleh hasn’t changed his stance that the plan is for Wilson to play again this season. It probably would take White getting hurt or really struggling for Wilson to get in one of the remaining four games, though. Saleh said he’s taking this week-to-week and his decision will be what’s best for the team.

“I’m still in that same mindset with regards to Zach,” Saleh said. “He’s a very talented young man. Very talented young man. We’re in the business of developing guys.

“I’ve said it before: This is Mike White’s opportunity. He’s attacking the heck out of the opportunity. He’s doing a great job with it. But at the same time, we still got to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to develop Zach to a spot we know he’s capable of getting to. It’s not just the quarterback position, it’s every position.”

Wilson, of course, wants another chance to play this season, but he’s trying to handle the situation as professionally as he can.

“I hope so,” Wilson said, “But that’s not up to me. … I have to have short-term memory right now. The goal is control what I can and for me whenever that number’s called - whether it’s this year, next year - I need to attack every single day [that] I’m trying to get better.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.