Jets’ Zach Wilson ‘unbelievable’ in winning return as starter

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Benched three times in his career and dismissed by fans and media as a first-round bust, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson delivered the kind of performance Sunday who was considered for him as the No. 2 pick in 2021.

“Zach was unbelievable,” coach Robert Saleh said after the Jets ended a five-game losing streak with a 30-6 defeat of the Houston Texans in a rain-swept MetLife Stadium.

Returning to the lineup after two games on the bench, Wilson passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns, posting career highs for passer rating (117.9) and completion percentage (75%). It was his third 300-yard passing day in 32 starts, but his first in a win. Saleh called it the best game of Wilson's career, and it left his teammates wondering about his resilience.

They described a discharged Wilson, who, frustrated with the way he was treated by the organization, vowed to his teammates that he would play with a chip on his shoulder and for the team. This resonated in the locker room.

“He told me, 'I'm playing for y'all. I've got nothing to lose,'” cornerback DJ Reed said. “He said, 'What's the worst that could happen if I end up on the bench again?' That's what he said and that's the way he played. It shows.”

Guard Laken Tomlinson said: “He said it at the beginning of the week: It's OK. Go out there and have fun. Leave it all out there.”

Wilson was in true Aaron Rodgers fashion for the final 30 minutes in difficult conditions. After throwing for just 92 yards in the first half – the score was 0-0 at halftime – Wilson was 18 of 21 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, his highest yardage total in any half of his career.

Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett opened up the game plan, allowing Wilson to throw. Wilson led touchdown drives on the team's first two possessions of the second half, no small feat for the Jets.

Before Sunday, they had gone eight straight games without scoring more than one offensive touchdown. The team ended an 18-game streak without three offensive touchdowns, tied for the longest such streak since 2000, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

It came out of nowhere for the Jets (5-8), and it came out of nowhere for Wilson, who had struggled in his previous nine starts.

“Just playing football today was there, and I can't say it's been like that often, unfortunately, in my career here,” said Wilson, who completed 27 of 36 passes without any interceptions. . His only blemish was a lost fumble during a scrimmage.

Wilson, replaced by Rodgers during the offseason, was thrust into action in Week 1 when the four-time MVP tore his left Achilles tendon. The Jets got off to a 4-3 start, but the offense was faltering under Wilson. After a Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Saleh benched Wilson in favor of career journeyman Tim Boyle – a decision that backfired with two ugly losses.

Publicly, Wilson said he understood the demotion, but privately he stewed, his teammates said. When it became clear that Boyle was going to be benched, Wilson expressed reluctance about the prospect of taking over the reins, The Athletic reported. Wilson said the report was “absolutely” false.

On Sunday, he played with purpose and his teammates said he took more risks than usual. His boldest moment came early in the third quarter. On a third-and-12, he was thrown to his left and threw against his body over the middle of the field, finding wide receiver Garrett Wilson for a 25-yard gain. That set up the first touchdown, a 15-yard pass to wide receiver Randall Cobb.

During game preparation, coaches implored Zach Wilson to play with a let-it-go mentality. He did it on this play.

“As a coach, you always say, ‘Don’t throw that,’” Wilson said. “Sometimes they go the other way. So, for me, it's about throwing him when you believe he's there, trusting him. Sometimes bad plays are going to happen, but you're going to have to trust and let it rip. That's part of football.”

Later, Wilson made it 21-6 with a 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Breece Hall. He did a tremendous job getting the ball to top playmakers, as Hall finished with eight receptions for 86 yards and Garrett Wilson had nine catches for 108 yards.

“He hit,” Garrett Wilson said of his quarterback. “He put it all out there, throwing points in the rain.”

The game plan helped. After a relatively conservative first half, the coaches finally trusted Zach Wilson. They called passes on the first five first down plays in the third quarter. He rewarded their confidence by making a handful of tight throws, using his arm strength instead of checking.

“From what I’ve seen, it’s the best he’s played,” Cobb said. “He just went out there and played his style of ball, without feeling constrained. The pressure he's faced over the last two or three years – he just went out there, put it aside and played phenomenally tonight.”