Don’t call it a comeback. Not yet anyway.
It will take more than one game — more than what his coach, Robert Saleh, described as probably the “best game of his career” — for Zach Wilson to shed the baggage he’s accumulated in three lackluster seasons with the Jets, resulting in being benched three times (for former practice-squad players) in that span.
But Wilson now has four games left this season to showcase the talent that convinced the Jets to take him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 — ahead of Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons — talent that made a rare public appearance in Sunday’s 301-yard, two-touchdown performance in the win over the Texans.
Regardless of how the next month plays out, Wilson’s future is almost certainly elsewhere. The Post’s Brian Costello argued “the Jets need to stay strong and say goodbye to Wilson.”
Aaron Rodgers is under contract for next season — even at 40, he’s a good bet to be available for more than four snaps — and Wilson has given the Jets no choice but to decline his fifth-year option for 2025 this spring. But with a strong final month, Wilson still may be able to help the Jets in the future.
Before the Jets picked the BYU quarterback, they traded former top-three pick Sam Darnold to Carolina, receiving a 2021 sixth-round pick, plus second-round and fourth-round picks in 2022.
Most perceived busts never shed the label. Steve Young and Jim Plunkett are exceptions. But it isn’t hard to see how a different team still might see value in Wilson, a 24-year-old who may have been unprepared for the pressure of New York, who was stuck behind shaky offensive lines and relying on uninspired offensive coordinators.
Just last season, the Jets watched former flameout Geno Smith be named a Pro Bowler and NFL Comeback Player of the Year, at 32, six years after leaving the team.
If Wilson’s next four games resemble his Sunday showing, the Jets could field calls this offseason from teams looking for a low-risk flier.
The Commanders aren’t committed to Sam Howell, a 2022 fifth-round pick.
The Falcons may lose patience with Desmond Ridder.
The Vikings may lose Kirk Cousins in free agency.
A season defined by quarterback injuries could create needs we can’t foresee.
The end of Wilson’s first chapter could define the rest of his career.
Today’s back page
The scoreboard: Cutlets edition
Giants 24, Packers 22: All Tommy DeVito does is win! They won’t show this tape at the football clinic, but there was plenty of primetime drama as the Giants’ undrafted rookie quarterback led a game-winning scoring drive in the final minute and a half.
DeVito, with his Jersey-through-and-through family tailgating in the parking lot and then watching in joy from the stands, added to his folk-hero status with 158 passing yards and a touchdown (no interceptions), 71 rushing yards and one stone-cold rally. He ripped a 32-yard completion to Wan’Dale Robinson (career-high 115 yards from scrimmage) to set up Randy Bullock’s walk-off 37-yard field goal.
The Giants appeared to have the game in hand with a 21-16 lead and the ball in Green Bay territory, but Saquon Barkley’s unforced fumble and a long, confused return gave the Packers the chance to go in front with 1:33 remaining. The defense, stellar all night, crucially stuffed the Packers’ two-point try.
The Giants (5-8) are — get this — just one game out of the final wild-card slot in the NFC after their third straight win, though they have five 6-7 teams to potentially leapfrog in the final four weeks.
Knicks 136, Raptors 130: A sparkling night on offense for the Knicks (13-9), who shot 60.5 percent from the field and 58.6 percent from 3-point range. Julius Randle scored 34 points (with eight rebounds and five assists), RJ Barrett had 27, Jalen Brunson had 21 (plus nine assists), Quentin Grimes had 19 and Josh Hart had 16-7-8. Immanuel Quickley was out due to knee inflammation.
Kings 131, Nets 118: The Nets (12-10) were simply short on firepower in this opener of a five-game road trip as the Kings set a franchise record with 25 3-pointers. Mikal Bridges led the Nets — who had won six of seven coming in — with 22 points, five assists and five rebounds, and Cam Thomas added 20 points on 21 shots.
Islanders 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT): Those November doldrums are becoming a distant memory. The Islanders vaulted to second place in the Metropolitan Division, improving to 8-1-2 in their past 11, on Bo Horvat’s overtime winner. That turned a blown lead with 6.4 seconds left in regulation into a John Taveras (boooo!) footnote.
— Jonathan Lehman
‘Glass’ half-empty for Knicks
The Knicks will be without their defensive anchor for their toughest stretch of the season — and beyond.
The team announced Monday that center Mitchell Robinson will undergo surgery on his injured left ankle this week and will be sidelined for the next eight to 10 weeks.
In that timeline’s best-case scenario, Robinson — who leads the NBA in offensive rebounding — would miss 29 games.
Jericho Sims, who had been out of the rotation, replaced Robinson in the starting lineup Monday as reserve center Isaiah Hartenstein handled the majority of the minutes (27) and crunch time in a victory over the Raptors.
Robinson, who suffered the injury Friday against the Celtics, is averaging 6.2 points, a career-best 10.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while altering many more shots with his 7-foot-4 wingspan and deterring opponents from attacking the rim.
The 25-year-old’s injury is the latest in a six-year career in which Robinson repeatedly has missed time. He was limited to 31 games in 2020-21 after fracturing a bone in his hand, as well as his foot. Last season, he missed 23 games, suffering an early-season knee injury and a mid-season thumb fracture.
Coming off Monday night’s win, the Knicks face a brutal stretch, with 10 of their next 11 games coming against winning teams — and eight of the 11 on the road, including the next five.
Even with Robinson, the Knicks are 3-9 this season against teams that currently own winning records.
How many zeroes?
The money isn’t the issue. The Dodgers ultimately could profit off of the $700 million they’ve invested in Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting contract, given the unique marketing, advertising and merchandising opportunities attached to an international superstar who doubles as the most unique talent in baseball history.
The unique structure of Ohtani’s deal, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman, calls for him to make $2 million per year during the decade-long contract and $68 million in deferred money to be paid annually between 2034 to 2043, valuing the pact at $460 million for luxury-tax purposes.
But will getting Ohtani ultimately get the Dodgers what they want most?
History says that the sport’s most consistent postseason underachiever — the 2024 World Series favorite, following the signing of Ohtani — won’t find it much easier to shake that reputation.
Prior to Ohtani’s signing, there had been 17 players in MLB history who changed teams and landed contracts of at least $200 million. Only three of them (David Price, Max Scherzer, Corey Seager) have won World Series rings under those deals.Through 2023, the 20 players with the largest contracts in MLB history played a combined 108 seasons on those deals. Only two of those seasons (Alex Rodriguez, Seager) ended with championship parades.
The results of record-setting free-agent signings of past eras were no different.
Nolan Ryan — who became baseball’s first million-dollar man in 1979 — never reached the World Series. Dave Winfield became “Mr. May” after going 1-for-22 in his lone trip to the Fall Classic with the Yankees in 1981. Bobby Bonilla was part of the worst team money could buy. His former teammate, Barry Bonds, retired ringless. Kevin Brown — baseball’s first $100 million man — never made a postseason appearance for the Dodgers. Alex Rodriguez’s three seasons in Texas each ended in last place.
This past season, the Yankees, Angels, Padres and Mets were responsible for five of the six highest contracts in the sport, but Mike Trout ($426.5 million), Aaron Judge ($360 million), Manny Machado ($350 million), Francisco Lindor ($341 million) and Fernando Tatis Jr. ($340 million) didn’t help any of those teams reach the postseason. Steve Cohen spent nearly a half-billion dollars to finish with 26 fewer wins than in 2022.
Ohtani — who has never been on an MLB team with a winning record despite playing alongside two teammates (Trout, Anthony Rendon) with contracts valued at $245 million or more — made the safest choice to ensure his first trip to the playoffs.
The Dodgers have won at least 100 games in three straight seasons and haven’t missed the postseason since 2012. But their lone championship since 1988 came with an asterisk, during the abbreviated, fan-less 2020 campaign. Their past two playoff appearances ended in their opening round.
Ohtani won’t pitch in 2024. A team in need of starting pitching won’t get over the top with a great DH. Ohtani’s future on the mound is filled with questions following his second major arm surgery. It was Ohtani’s third surgery in six MLB seasons. Next season, he will turn 30, meaning the Dodgers will pay Ohtani like he is the best player in history for multiple seasons past his prime.
To quote the brilliant “Bojack Horseman”:
“You know, it’s funny, when you look at someone through rose-colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags.”
What we’re reading 👀
⚾ Yankees brass spent Monday in Los Angeles making their pitch to prized free agent Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Now they wait.
⚾ Meanwhile, the Yankees tried to take advantage of the Dodgers’ roster crunch, obtaining lefty reliever Victor Gonzalez and minor league infielder Jorbit Vivas in exchange for shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney.
⚾ Mets third-base candidate Ronny Mauricio is awaiting tests on a leg injury suffered during Winter League play in the Dominican Republic.
🏒 The Post’s Mollie Walker looks at what Vincent Trocheck has meant to the Rangers during their 19-6-1 start.
🏈 Top quarterback prospect Drake Maye, duh, is entering the NFL Draft. Caleb Williams, you’re up next.
🏈 The Dolphins choked away a 14-point lead in the final three minutes to Will Levis and the Titans.
Source
