Jets coach Robert Saleh doesn't commit to starting Zach Wilson on Sunday

Zach Wilson might not be the Jets’ starting quarterback against the Bears on Sunday.

Coach Robert Saleh left the door open for a quarterback change after the offense fell flat on its face in Sunday’s 10-3 loss at New England.

Saleh said he’s evaluating “the entire outfit” and is not committing to Wilson. He could be demoted to backup or even inactive when the Jets host Chicago.

Wilson threw for 77 yards against the Patriots and led the offense to only 2 total yards in the second half.

“We’re keeping everything on the table over the next couple of days,” Saleh said during a Zoom call on Monday. “We all got to be able to sit back and look at what’s best for this organization and this team.”

He added, “I got to go back and take a deep breath and say everything needs to be evaluated.  When you put up 100 yards of offense — I don’t care how good New England is, and they are good — it’s unacceptable. It’s not NFL football.”

Saleh did make a point of saying it isn’t “all about the quarterback. I want to be very, very clear. It’s not all about the quarterback.”

If there is a change, it would be Mike White or Joe Flacco running the offense. “Everyone’s on the table,” Saleh said.

Saleh, who said he spoke to Wilson, will watch film and meet with his coaches and general manager Joe Douglas before making his decision by Wednesday.

This a major about-face from Saleh, who after Sunday’s loss said making a quarterback change was the “furthest thing” from his mind. This also is a significant moment for the franchise.

The Jets drafted Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 and improved the talent around him during the past offseason to help him develop. They’ve gone out of their way to protect him and back him during tough times.

Saleh has called Wilson the Jets’ franchise quarterback, and a few weeks ago, he said Wilson would be the Jets’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season unless he got injured.

Something changed on the flight home from New England.

Saleh watched film and clearly didn’t like what he saw. The Jets (6-4) have a top-10 defense but are near the bottom in total offense and passing yards per game.

“I do think we have a championship-quality defense,” Saleh said. “I do think we’ve got really good players on offense. From a schematic standpoint, we’re right there with everyone else. Just trying to evaluate to see how we can get this offense going a little bit.”

Saleh said this potential change has nothing to do with the fact that Wilson didn’t take accountability for the loss after the game. Asked if he thought he and the offense let the defense down, Wilson said, “No, no,” a remark that irked the fan base and was a popular soundbite on social media. Saleh, who said he wishes Wilson were better in front of the media, said this is strictly about performance.

Wilson has thrown four touchdown passes in seven games. Flacco, who played the first three games while Wilson rehabbed his knee injury, leads the Jets with five. Wilson ranks No. 35 in touchdowns and completion percentage (55.6) and has thrown for fewer than 155 yards in four of the last five games. There are definite concerns over whether he is the right man for the job.

Saleh said he is evaluating all positions. He said he won’t take play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, but he too is on notice.

“Just like everybody else, he’ll be challenged from a game-plan standpoint with regards to our coaching staff,” Saleh said. “Something's got to get better. We’re going to do our best to try and find an answer.”

Wilson’s teammates continue to support him.

Edge rusher Carl Lawson said the Jets have “all the confidence in the world” in Wilson. Guard Laken Tomlinson said the belief level in Wilson is “high.” Quinnen Williams said “not really” when asked if Wilson addressed the team or defense after his postgame remarks. Williams also said Wilson didn’t have to do that.

Saleh said he’s not concerned about Wilson losing the respect of the locker room. His concern is putting the Jets in the best position to end this season strong.

“Everything’s being evaluated,” he said. “ Just trying to do our best to find a way to get the ball moving, possess the ball, keep the defense off, score some points and win some football games because  we got a great opportunity with these seven games left. There’s a lot of really cool things to look forward to. I just want to make sure from a coaching standpoint that we’re covering every single base that we can and we’re doing everything we can to make sure we’re putting the best 53 players [out there] so we can win games.”

Saleh will decide whether Wilson is one of those players.

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.