Is it possible a breakup between the Jets and Zach Wilson is already set in stone?
Jets head coach Robert Saleh was asked Monday about a weekend report by the Deseret News, Wilson’s hometown newspaper in Utah, that said the team told the 24-year-old quarterback he’ll be traded during the offseason, with Wilson and Saleh agreeing to part ways when the former No. 2 overall pick was benched last month.
Saleh did not deny the report in his response.
“My conversations with [Wilson] are to do everything he can to get ready to play a football game,” Saleh said Monday. “As far as all that other stuff is concerned, those are things I will leave for Joe [Douglas].”
Wilson was reinstated as the Jets’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Texans, and he played perhaps the best game of his career in leading the team to a surprising 30-6 win, going 27-for-36 with 301 yards and two touchdowns.
The impressive outing came after a report by The Athletic last week stated Wilson was hesitant to retake the starting job.
Joe Benigno caused further drama last Monday when he said on WFAN that Saleh told him he doesn’t like Wilson, but Benigno issued an apology the next day and said that he misinterpreted Saleh’s text message.
After a rough first two seasons for Wilson, the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers during the offseason, with the plan to have the former BYU star learn from the four-time league MVP as his understudy.
But when Rodgers tore his left Achilles four plays into his first drive with the Jets, Wilson was thrust back into action.
He started the next nine games and was pulled during an ugly 32-6 loss to the Bills on Nov. 19, and he was benched for Tim Boyle for the Black Friday loss to the Dolphins.
Rodgers has stated that he plans to return next year to the Jets.
Boyle got a second start against the Falcons, during which he got yanked for Trevor Siemian en route to a 13-8 loss.
Boyle was then released and Wilson was given the keys again.
Wilson will start again on Sunday when the Jets travel for a rematch against the Dolphins.
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