New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) walks off the field after losing to the Detroit Lions, 20-17, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Nfl Ny Jets Vs Detroit Lions Lions At Jets
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(Florham Park, NJ) – It’s an odd existence for Jets’ backup QB Zach Wilson these days.
The former first round pick has struggled mightily during his time in New York, and now he’s lost his job – to legendary newcomer Aaron Rodgers.
But according to people in camp, this has all been a positive development for Wilson. And that showed during the preseason opener, in which the 24-year-old went 14-for-20 with 123 yards and a TD in one half of play.
The young signal caller also received some words of encouragement from veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen – who just departed the Minnesota Vikings to sign with the Carolina Panthers.
HBO Max’s cameras captured Thielen chatting with Wilson during the second episode of “Hard Knocks.” The 32-year-old Thielen, a two-time Pro Bowler, encouraged Wilson to, “go have some fun this year. Stay in it, man. Don’t let other people say who you are. Just go and fricken prove it. You’re a hell of a player. Just believe it. I know it’s tough, man. This league’s tough, man. This league’s tough. But you just gotta fricken go prove it every day. Every day in practice. Every day fricken, when you get a chance, just go prove it. You don’t have to talk about it.”
The comments likely strike a similar tone to the mentorship Wilson has received from Rodgers, as the future Hall of Famer has taken the former second-overall pick under his wing – all while getting himself acclimated to his new team.
Rodgers looked like a proud older brother while watching from the sidelines, wearing a headset, during the preseason game with Carolina. He admonished the refs for not giving Wilson a “free play” when he used a hard count to draw an offsides from the Panthers. And when Wilson hit tight end Kenny Yeboah for a touchdown, off a perfectly-executed bootleg, Rodgers joined in on the celebrations.
