Time for Zach Wilson to get Jets' air game off the ground
Zach Wilson of the New York Jets warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 23, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. Credit: Getty Images/Dustin Bradford
The Jets’ defense and running attack have sparked their four-game winning streak. But at some point, they’re going to have to show they can beat teams by throwing the football.
They may have to on Sunday. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is known for taking away the opposition’s strength. If Belichick loads up on stopping the run, Zach Wilson may have to let it fly against New England.
Wilson has been grounded the last three weeks. He’s completed 40 of 65 passes for 441 yards and zero touchdowns. The Jets have 469 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in those three games.
This formula of making Wilson more of a game manager doesn’t seem sustainable, especially after losing explosive back Breece Hall for the season with a torn ACL.
“I’m not sounding the alarm on the pass game yet,” Robert Saleh said.
Yet is the key term.
The Jets (5-2) are unexpectedly tied with Buffalo and Kansas City for most wins in the AFC. Those two teams have dynamic passing games and quarterbacks. Eventually, the Jets have to let Wilson cook and see whether he is the franchise quarterback they believed he would become when they drafted him No. 2 overall last year.
That still remains unknown, despite Wilson being 4-0 this season after missing the first three games with a knee injury. In 17 career games — a full NFL season — Wilson has 10 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. He has 10 games with no passing touchdowns.
Wilson threw for 252 yards and led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives — one ended with a 5-yard TD pass to Corey Davis — to lift the Jets in Pittsburgh in his season debut. He’s totaled 231 passing yards the past two games.
The former BYU star still holds on to the ball too long, turning and spinning away from the rush to extend plays. The Jets would rather Wilson pick his spots with that, stay out of harm’s way and not commit a foolish turnover.
Wilson has taken care of the football over the last three weeks, though. He hasn’t thrown an interception.
Saleh said the low pass attempts have been partially by design because the Jets faced the Packers' and Broncos’ defenses the past two weeks. Saleh also noted Hall was tackled twice on the 1-yard line on passes three games ago against Miami.
“I've still got a lot of faith in our offense, still got a lot of faith in the pass game,” Saleh said. “Showed it in the fourth quarter at Pittsburgh. Showed it against Miami and I know the touchdowns don’t show up there, but two of those passes got tackled on the 1.
“Zach is a ton better than he was a year ago and he’s going to continue to get better.”
It is a credit to the defense and run game that the Jets have mostly been in control the past three games.
They’re the only team without a passing touchdown in that time. Yet the Jets’ 15.7-point average margin of victory is the highest in the league with a 37-0 fourth-quarter advantage in those three games. They allowed a league-low 12.0 points and scored an NFL-best 2.7 rushing touchdowns.
“This team is just finding a way to win any game really,” defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. “As a team we’re just showing that no matter who’s out there, no matter the circumstance or the situation, that we’re well-equipped to win any game.”
Losing Hall will have a huge effect. He accounted for 468 scrimmage yards and four rushing touchdowns the last four games. Michael Carter and James Robinson, acquired Monday in a trade with Jacksonville, will try to pick up for Hall.
The Jets have other playmakers who are not being utilized as much as expected and should be more involved. Rookie receiver Garrett Wilson’s eight catches lead the Jets over the last three weeks. Tight ends C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin each have five and Elijah Moore has one. Moore returns this week after not making the trip to Denver following a blow-up over a lack of targets and a subsequent trade request.
“We've got to get better at all phases of offense,” Carter said. “We can run the ball even better and we can open up the pass game a little more. At the end of the day, we have to be able to make the plays when they come.”
Notes & quotes: The Jets placed Hall and right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) on injured reserve. They signed running back Zonovan Knight to the active roster and offensive lineman Myron Cunningham to the practice squad.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
