New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) is shown after his team fell, 27-6 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Syndication: The Record
(Florham Park, NJ) – It has seemed inevitable for the better portion of the season.
Ever since Aaron Rodgers went down mere moments into the start of the season, Zach Wilson has shown he’s still not ready to be the guy for these New York Jets. Maybe he never will be – maybe he will resurrect his career somewhere else. But the inevitability has taken its course to this point: the Wilson era is over for Gang Green.
After yet another futile and lacking offensive effort, this time in a road loss to the Buffalo Bills, Jets head coach Robert Saleh pulled Wilson late in the game. He was replaced by journeyman QB Tim Boyle, who completed seven passes in 14 attempts, netting 33 yards and tossing an interception. Prior to his entering the game, Wilson went just 7/15 for 81 yards, with one TD and one interception. Following the game, and his benching, Wilson seemed to take it in stride: “When things aren’t getting done, changes have to be made. And I understand that.”
The numbers behind Wilson and the entire offensive unit are ugly. Over the past 15 quarters played, the Jets have scored just one TD. Averaging 13.2 points per game, last year’s offense (17.5 points per game) was more effective, as was the Jets’ 2020 offense under then head coach Adam Gase (15.4 points per game).
Saleh made the decision to go with Boyle as time wound down on Sunday, but remained non-committal post game. Asked if Wilson will sit against the Dolphins next week, Saleh said he was “not ready to answer any of those questions yet.
Other players entertained the possibility that Boyle will be the starter against Miami. Cornerback Sauce Gardner doesn’t see much changing, even if it’s Boyle: “It’s just business as usual.”
And running back Breece Hall – who has arguably been more directly impacted on offense by the team’s struggles at QB, put it bluntly when talking with SNY: “I’m sorry to Jets fans. They don’t deserve this.”
It’s hard to disagree with that. Jets fans may just be thankful that we could be on the cusp of the post-Wilson era.
