Zach Wilson won’t play in season finale vs Patriots, career with Jets could be over
Zach Wilson might have already played his final game in a Jets uniform.
On Wednesday, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Wilson is still in concussion protocol and will not play in the season finale against the Patriots on Sunday.
Wilson has not played since the Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Dolphins on Dec. 17.
“Everyone responds differently to concussions,” Saleh said about Wilson not clearing the protocol.
Trevor Siemian, who started the previous two games against the Commanders and Browns, will start for the Jets.
CBS initially reported Wilson left the game against the Dolphins due to “dehydration.” The Jets later reported in the third quarter that Wilson suffered a head injury and would not return to the game. His mom, Lisa Wilson, said on her Instagram story days later Wilson had problems with blurred vision after he took some “huge hits.”
Wilson has had a turbulent career with the Jets after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.
He started 13 games during his rookie season and passed for 2,334 yards, nine touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Entering the 2022 season, Saleh had confidence Wilson would continue to improve, but that never translated on the field.
Wilson suffered a bone bruise and meniscus tear during the preseason, which caused him to miss the first four games of that season. When he did return, Wilson displayed some of the bad habits from his rookie season. He was benched twice, the first time following a lack of accountability in his postgame comments after a 10-3 loss to the Patriots.
After acquiring Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Packers, this season was supposed to be a redshirt season for Wilson despite him being the Jets’ backup quarterback. But after Rodgers tore his Achilles in the season opener against the Bills on Sept. 11, Wilson became the starter once again.
In 12 games this season, Wilson passed for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was benched once again during the Jets’ 32-6 loss to the Bills on Nov. 19 for then-backup Tim Boyle. Wilson became the starter again after the Jets released Boyle ahead of their game against the Texans last month.
“I thought he had great OTAs, great training camp,” Saleh said. “I thought he battled, he fought, he’s a fighter.
“I know there’s things he wishes he could have back and I know there are a lot of things he improved on. I know some things that were out of his control.
“I’ve said it and I will say it again, he’s going to have a long career in this league.”
Wilson’s career with the Jets (6-10) could be over. Last month, the Deseret News, a newspaper in Salt Lake City, reported that the Jets would trade Wilson during the offseason. This was around the time The Athletic said that Wilson was hesitant about returning to his previous starting position.
Wilson has one year remaining on his rookie contract worth a guaranteed $5.5 million. He is also due to count $11.2 million on the team’s salary cap in 2024.
Gang Green must also decide if it will pick up Wilson’s fifth-year option, worth around $23 million fully guaranteed. Since that is unlikely, that would open the door to Wilson being traded.
Regarding his future with the Jets, Saleh didn’t definitively say if he would return to the team.
“We’ll see, it’s all things we will have to talk about once the season is over,” Saleh said. “Whether it’s here or somewhere else, I believe he’s going to have a hell of a career.”
