Robert Saleh Says Zach Wilson ‘Fired Up' to be Starter Again Amid QB Carousel

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It’s been a chaotic week for Jets fans, to say the least.
In the latest update on New York’s dizzying quarterback carousel, coach Robert Saleh announced that Zach Wilson will take over as the starting quarterback for Week 14’s game against the Texans on Sunday.
During his press conference on Wednesday, Saleh said Wilson is “fired up” to be back in the starting lineup despite NFL insider Dianna Russini’s recent report that the former No. 2 pick was “reluctant” to resume starting duties.
“Zach gives us our best chance to win, and we’ll give him another opportunity to go prove that,” said Saleh.
"He's fired up."
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 6, 2023
Coach Saleh on QB Zach Wilson pic.twitter.com/8aD2ggbZft
The coach added that barring injury, Wilson will remain the Jets’ starter for the rest of the 2023 season.
Previously, Wilson was benched during the third quarter of a 32—6 loss to the Bills in Week 11 and ceded his starting role to Tim Boyle for the last two weeks. Boyle, who was benched this past Sunday in a 13—8 loss to the Falcons, has since been released from the roster. On Tuesday, the Jets signed quarterback Brett Rypien in a corresponding move.
Wilson, who has recorded six touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2023, faces a gargantuan task in trying to salvage whatever’s left of the Jets’ 4—8 season, as well as his damaged reputation. For now, it appears he is locked in as the Jets’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the year.

Kristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020 and has a bachelor’s in English and linguistics from Columbia University. Before joining SI in November 2023, Wong covered four NFL teams as an associate editor with the FanSided NFL network and worked as a staff writer for the brand’s flagship site. She is a lifelong Liverpool fan who enjoys solving crossword puzzles and hanging out at her neighborhood dive bar in NYC.