Saleh Addresses Jets' Current Quarterback Situation
The New York Jets are riding with their former No. 2 overall draft pick until further notice.
With future Hall-of-Fame field general Aaron Rodgers on the shelf as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, Zach Wilson has reassumed QB1 duties and it appears that will be the case for the foreseeable future. After Rodgers went to Injured Reserve, Wilson was the lone quarterback on the Jets' 53-man roster prompting the team to sign Tim Boyle off the Practice Squad prior to Sunday's game at Dallas.
Head coach Robert Saleh responded to a question regarding a possible quarterback addition during a virtual media availability on Monday.
"That’s probably more of a question for [general manager] Joe [Douglas], but I don’t think so," said Saleh.
The Jets reportedly had interest in Brett Rypien, who was with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and the Denver Broncos in 2022.
Rypien was on the Los Angeles Rams' Practice Squad, meaning another NFL team could claim the quarterback but only with the intention of placing him on their active roster. The Rams, however, eliminated Rypien as a possibility for the Jets by signing him to their 53-man squad last week.
Meanwhile, Wilson had his moments in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. The third-year pro hung tough in the face of a relentless Dallas pass rush that seemed to create pressure of the majority of QB dropbacks.
"I think anyone who watches football, and you look at it from a global standpoint, we’ll see that he’s so much improved in the pocket, his presence in the pocket. I thought he delivered a lot of really good passes," said Saleh.
He delivered a perfect pass to receiver Garrett Wilson on a slant that resulted in a 68-yard touchdown, pulling the Jets within three points of the Cowboys midway through the second quarter. Dexter Lawrence prevented the Wilson-Wilson connection for a second touchdown by breaking up a pass in the redzone late in the opening half.
"That ball to Garrett, that he was trying to throw just before the half, if it doesn’t get tipped, that’s a touchdown. The strike he threw to Garrett for the big touchdown. He threw a couple of really good [passes], took care of the ball," said Saleh. "He scrambled when he needed to, he stepped up in the pocket when he needed to."
Chasing a deficit while operating under duress, Wilson was intercepted three times during the fourth quarter on the way to a lackluster final stat line. The 24-year-old signal caller finished 12-of-27 passing for 170 yards one touchdown and the three desperation picks.
"I think people would have seen he was playing pretty well, up until like I said when it was garbage time and he was trying to force the ball," said Saleh.
Heading into the game, teammates publicly rallied around the quarterback and it's been more of the same following the 30-10 road loss.
"We just need to make sure to keep his confidence high. When his confidence is high, he's a damn good player," said starting center Connor McGovern on Monday. "He had, in my time with him, the best week of practice. He was throwing absolute dimes all practice."
Wilson, the receiver, offered words of support for his quarterback at his locker after the game. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year totaled 83 yards and one touchdown on two receptions.
"Zach went out there and gave it his all today. We gotta make it easier on him. We gotta paint better pictures for him. We gotta hold up in protection better for him. We gotta get open more," said the Jets' WR1.
Unsigned Veteran Quarterbacks
Chase Daniel (Age: 36)
Joe Flacco (Age: 38)
Nick Foles (Age: 34)
Colt McCoy (Age: 36)
Matt Ryan (Age: 37)
Trevor Siemian (Age: 31)
Carson Wentz (Age: 30)
READ MORE:
Saleh Delivers Good Injury News for Four Starters on Monday
Dallas and Dak Have Their Way with Jets' Highly-Touted Defense
Jets Grounded by Parsons-led Cowboys, 30-10
Jets' First-Round Rookie Inactive, Surrenders Gameday Spot to Veteran
