Jets returning to Zach Wilson as QB1 against Texans،
FLORHAM PARK, NJ — After two days of speculation and palace intrigue, the New York Jets announced Wednesday that they will start Zach Wilson at quarterback Sunday against the Houston Texans — just two weeks later. that he was put on the bench and demoted to third row.
Coach Robert Saleh opted for Wilson — the No. 2 pick in 2021 — over Trevor Siemian, who replaced an ineffective Tim Boyle in Sunday's 13-8 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Boyle was taken out of the equation Tuesday, when he was abruptly released by the team after two poor starts.
“Zach gives us the best chance to win,” Saleh said.
When asked if Wilson would remain the Jets' starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, Saleh replied, “God willing.”
Wilson will be backed up by Siemian, while Brett Rypien, signed Tuesday to the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad, will be the third emergency quarterback.
Saleh was leaning toward Wilson on Monday, sources said, but he delayed his announcement because of a new quarterback controversy — a report from The Athletic that Wilson was reluctant to return to the field. Saleh, who met privately with him on Monday, insisted Wilson really wanted to be in the lineup.
This is another interesting twist in the Jets' ever-changing quarterback situation. They're in this mess because Aaron Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon in the fourth game of the season and the team's backup plan didn't work.
Rodgers hasn't ruled out the possibility of returning, but the Jets have less than a 0.1 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN Analytics. The four-time MVP said it wouldn't make “a lot of sense” to risk getting injured again in games without playoff implications.
Wilson, who was handed the QB2 job early in the season despite two disappointing seasons, continued his struggles after replacing Rodgers. He lost six of nine starts, with the offense only managing eight touchdowns in those games. At the time of the benching, Saleh said: “Not everything depends on him, but there are things he needs to be better at.”
Desperate for a spark, Saleh replaced Wilson with Boyle, a career journeyman with just three previous starts and a college resume that included more interceptions than touchdowns. On Sunday, he completed just 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards and one interception. Afterward, Saleh chastised Boyle for not throwing to open receivers downfield.
In came Siemian, who in his 2023 debut was sacked three times and fumbled three times (lost one) in just four series. He completed just 5 of 13 passes for 66 yards, failing to generate any points even though a possession started in Atlanta territory.
The Jets signed Siemian on September 26, two weeks after Rodgers' injury. Despite having previous starting experience (30 starts), Siemian was placed behind Boyle on the depth chart. The Jets said that was due to Boyle's familiarity with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and his system.
If Saleh had named Siemian as the starter, it would have been the first time since 1989 that the Jets had four different starting quarterbacks in the same season. We still have time.
