warning: This is not a preferred take, and it is not one thing you wish to put below your tree or in your stocking for Christmas.
The Jets want Zach Wilson as quarterback for the ultimate two video games of the season.
A near-death house loss to the Jaguars 19-3 on Thursday night time successfully dominated the Jets out of the playoffs. Even when they don’t seem to be mathematically eradicated this weekend, their playoff chances are high “super,” head coach Robert Saleh admitted Friday.
So what do the Jets must play for apart from to assist decide Wilson’s future within the ultimate two video games?
Discovering out extra about Wilson and discovering out if the 2021 No. 2 general draft decide is mostly a quarterback for the franchise was, in any case, one of many Jets’ missions this season. His rookie season has been politely uneven, and the Jets wanted to understand how a lot he would progress in his second season.
Nobody on the Jets is keen to confess it, however the actuality is that Wilson hasn’t proven any clear indicators of progress from his first yr to his second, and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence stated Thursday that he is one in every of them. It was extra apparent than simply seeing how a lot progress was made…identical interval.
Saleh is in an unattainable state of affairs as a result of he desires to win the sport. He has seen a 7-4 begin evaporate to his 7-8 due to a 0-4 freefall. And it could be silly to make the argument that Wilson provides the Jets a greater probability of profitable than White.
That places Saleh within the troublesome and delicate place of deciding whether or not profitable a match is necessary within the subsequent two weeks or looking for out extra about Wilson.
And it’s totally seemingly.
Saleh dropped breadcrumbs on Friday, whether or not it was unwitting or calculated, and Wilson’s confidence, additionally undermined by his personal admission, that he may very well be shut down for the season. advised.
The pinnacle coach swore after Thursday night time’s recreation that he “did not see his final recreation” and stated he “has some cons” on Friday when he misplaced a Wilson-like confidence.
“You must take into consideration the participant and the place he’s and whether or not you are doing extra harm or serving to him,” Saleh stated. “It is one of the best determination for the staff.” We simply wish to be certain that we’re getting down and never simply saying, “Hey, let’s get this man’s rep simply to get this man’s rep.”
That seemed like a powerful trace that Wilson was over, a minimum of in 2022.
However I do consider Surrey ought to begin Wilson in opposition to the Seahawks beginning Sunday in Seattle — except they’re already satisfied the group has seen sufficient of him.
I am unsure I might do the identical if the following recreation was at house. As a result of Jets followers have run out on Wilson to the purpose the place he will get booed throughout pregame warmups. However with the Jets gearing up for his two remaining video games, his life will probably be rather more manageable psychologically.
Requested Friday if he nonetheless believed Wilson was his “future quarterback,” Surrey danced across the query.
“I’ve confidence in everybody,” he stated. It might not be the yr, however that does not imply subsequent yr will not be their yr.”
One other critical trace that Wilson is completed with this season.
Jets offensive coordinator Mike Ruffler requested Friday what he knew extra about Wilson by the 16 weeks of this season than he did earlier than the season.
“He is grown loads within the final two years,” claimed LaFleur. “He is confronted extra adversity than he is in all probability ever had in his life, and he retains displaying up at work in search of methods to get higher. I consider he is a greater quarterback.” I do know it is not proven.”
Requested if Wilson’s greatest drawback was bodily or psychological, Saleh stated: For Zach, it would not take lengthy to flip. All he wants is a collection of consecutive video games, quarters, performs, placing collectively good soccer. As soon as within the groove, every thing clicks and begins transferring quick. ”
The one method Sale and the Jets will discover out is by dealing with Wilson within the ultimate two video games. Unusually, they know extra about White, who has began simply six video games within the final two years, than Wilson, who has began 22.
Wilson is the participant they should take advantage of decisive choices. So play him the final two video games. What extra do the Jets must lose?
