Veteran Quarterback Tim Boyle Joining Jets for 2023
Zach Wilson appears to have some competition for QB2 status on the New York Jets' depth chart.
Gang Green is reportedly signing veteran backup quarterback Tim Boyle to a one-year contract, per NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo.
“As of now, for sure,” said Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh in response to a question during the NFL Owners’ Meetings about Wilson being the second-string quarterback. “When I said ‘as of now,’ I know that’s going to be the headline, but he’s our number two. I really still think Zach has a future in this League to be a really good quarterback.”
Even with Jets' head coach Robert Saleh publicly labeling Zach Wilson as the team's "No. 2 quarterback" last month, there was still a need for another capable arm in Florham Park.
The Jets lost signal caller Mike White to the Miami Dolphins in free agency and 38-year old Joe Flacco remains unsigned.
Boyle has appeared in 17 regular season games during four seasons on an active NFL roster. The 6-foot-4 signal caller made three starts for the Detroit Lions in 2021.
Going 0-3 as the starter, Boyle accounted for a 64.9 completion percentage while throwing for 526 yards with the Lions.
Boyle, who started his college career at Connecticut before transferring to Eastern Kentucky, initially entered the league as an undrafted rookie signing by Green Bay in 2018. He was the gameday inactive third-string quarterback for his entire rookie season.
Boyle saw his first NFL regular season game action October 20, 2019 in a victory formation situation. Despite totaling 11 appearances with the Packers, he attempted only four passes.
While in Green Bay, Boyle played two seasons under new Jets’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held the same position with the Packers from 2019-2021.
For his NFL career, which includes a 2022 stop in Chicago, Boyle has thrown 106 passes for 574 yards and three touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Meanwhile, Wilson, the former No. 2 overall draft pick, has made 22 career starts for Gang Green. He’s accounted for a below-average 55.2 completion percentage while throwing 15 touchdown passes to 18 interceptions.
Wilson, who owns an 8-14 record as the Jets’ starting signal caller, finished with more touchdown passes than interceptions in only two of nine starts last year.
“He [Zach Wilson] has the work ethic. He has the mindset, and he’s coming in here to attack it,” said Saleh in late March. "We’re counting on him to be a fixture here for a while.”
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