Robert Saleh shows support for Jets QB Zach Wilson, who likely will start against Jaguars on Thursday night
Zach Wilson of the Jets throws a pass during the third quarter against the Lions at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Mike White will have to clear a number of obstacles to be available to play Thursday night, so it’s looking as if Zach Wilson will lead the Jets’ offense again.
Robert Saleh would not officially name Wilson the starter against the Jaguars, but he showed the young quarterback plenty of support during a Monday Zoom call.
Wilson has been in the crosshairs of critics for not living up to the expectations that come with being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He hasn’t shown franchise quarterback traits. He’s struggled to make even some simple throws, but Saleh said he saw “really good things” from him in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Lions.
“The frustrating thing is the kid is going to be a good quarterback,” Saleh said. “The NFL and this new instant coffee world that we’re in just does not want to give people time. We look at him and he is just nitpicked with a fine-toothed comb, everything that he does.”
Wilson, who was inactive the previous three games, threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. He also missed receivers, was intercepted once and nearly was picked off two more times. He completed only 18 of 35 passes and his interception led to a field goal in the Jets’ three-point loss.
“I got to be better, man,” Wilson said.
If White can’t play because of the fractured ribs he suffered against Buffalo two games ago, it will be Wilson again. The Jets will need him to be sharp against Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback drafted just before him last year.
The Jets (7-7), who have lost three straight, are in ninth place in the AFC with three games to go. If they lose to the Jaguars (6-8), the Jets will fall to 10th because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. The top seven teams make the playoffs.
“We know we have to win this one,” tight end C.J. Uzomah said.
It’s a long shot that White will be cleared for contact.
Saleh said he is being evaluated and undergoing more scans on his ribs. Like last week, White is seeking opinions from outside doctors to clear him, but even if he finds one, the Jets’ doctors still would have to clear White for him to play.
“There are a lot of hurdles that he would have go through,” Saleh said.
A decision will come “pretty quick,” Saleh said. It’s a short week, and Saleh wants his starting quarterback to take the walk-through reps. White can do that because there is no contact, but it would be pointless if he’s not cleared to play.
“He’s going to participate as he normally would,” Saleh said. “At the same time, you want your starting quarterback to make all these walk-through reps, so we’ve got to make a decision.”
Although the Jets lost two of White’s three starts, he moved the offense a lot better than Wilson has. Still, the Jets’ loss Sunday fell on everyone.
Special teams allowed a touchdown on a punt return. The defense allowed a go-ahead 51-yard catch-and-run for a TD by tight end Brock Wright with 1:49 left. Saleh also admitted he made a mistake by not using all of his timeouts on the final drive, which ended with Greg Zuerlein missing a 58-yard field- goal attempt.
Uzomah, who caught his first two touchdown passes as a Jet on Sunday, thought Wilson did a good job and that the offense could have helped him more.
“I think he played well,” he said. “As an offensive unit, we left a lot of plays out there. I know myself personally, I left plays out there. We all feel that way. I think he did well in his return for sure.”
Saleh said he saw some growth from Wilson to come back from a rough third quarter and lead the Jets on a go-ahead touchdown drive and nearly a tying field goal in the fourth.
“He came out in the second half, we can all agree he was missing on some throws, he was missing on some reads,” Saleh said. “But for him to get himself back on track, I thought that was really good by him and a big step in the direction that he’d been struggling with in the past.
“It just shows at least some maturation in my mind with regards to mental fortitude.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
