The legendary hip-hop group Gang Starr once said, “no matter what we face, we must meet our moment of truth.”
No quote precisely summarizes what Zach Wilson and what’s at stake for him and the Jets team Sunday in a critical game that could affect not only the team’s postseason fate but also his future with the team.
Wilson was named Gang Green’s starting quarterback once again after doctors didn’t clear Mike White for contact after he fractured his ribs in last weekend’s loss to the Bills. On Friday, Jets coach Robert Saleh told Wilson the news personally before talking to reporters at his locker.
Wilson was grinning from ear to ear as this is his second chance to make an impression on his teammates and Jets coaches.
“I’m going to go out there and control what I can,” Wilson said. “Of course, the mindset is I gotta be the best that I can every single play.
“I’m not going to go out there with any expectations or whatever. It’s gotta be what decision I can make and let me go out there and play, have fun, be grateful to be on this field.
“Like I said, the winning and the playoffs, that kind of takes care of itself.”
Not only are the Jets fighting for their playoff lives at 7-6 and in the ninth seed in the AFC, but Wilson is also competing for his career. After being selected as the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson’s play has been subpar to say the least. He has thrown for 3,613 yards, 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 20 career starts.
The last time Wilson was on the field before he was benched and made inactive for the following three weeks, the Jets couldn’t score more than three points against one of the worst Patriots teams in 20 years. To put the cherry on the ice cream, Wilson also failed to take any accountability for the loss against New England.
“No, no,” Wilson responded when asked if he felt like he let the Jets’ defense down.
Now nearly a month later, Sunday’s game against the Lions is Wilson’s moment of truth to show he is indeed the Jets quarterback of the future and the player who can help lead them to the playoffs after an 11-year absence. Since he was benched in favor of White, Jets coaches said Wilson needed a reset to work on mechanics and fundamentals while being the third-string quarterback.
Now it’s time to find out how much Wilson has learned during those three weeks. Nothing can replace real live game reps, but maybe watching the team rally around White was the kick in the butt Wilson needed to get his technique and maturity in order.
After he returned from a preseason meniscus injury that kept him out for the first three games, Wilson went 5-2 in his seven starts, but he completed 55.6% of his passes, which was the worst in the NFL which throwing for 1,279 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
“I think our guys trust him,” Saleh said about Wilson. “I feel like he’s had a really good week of practice.
“I feel like he’s been very good over the last three weeks when being deliberate and attacking the moments that we’ve asked him to attack and all the different things with regards to footwork and fundamentals, but I don’t know if there’s a trust issue.
“He’s got to go out there and do the best he possibly can, and I know as a coaching staff we trust him, and I know the team trusts him. It’s just everyone doing their part and making sure that we execute at the highest level possible and do the best we can.”
Saleh didn’t rule out keeping Wilson as the Jets’ starting quarterback past Sunday’s game against the Lions. But that will also be determined by how Wilson plays in an essential must-win game for Gang Green.
The Lions also come into this game with a lot to play for at 6-7, as they’ve won five of their last seven games. With the Giants and Seahawks fading, they have an opportunity to cease control of the seventh and final playoff spot in the NFC.
The best-case scenario for the Jets is Wilson takes the bull by the horns and shows he is the player they expected him to be coming out of BYU. But if the Jets lose this game and/or miss the playoffs for the 12 consecutive year, changes could be coming to the quarterback position.
Saleh is already taking the approach of trying to win now, especially with an elite defense that ranked third in the NFL overall. The Jets have everything it takes to be a playoff team in 2022.
The only question is can their quarterback get them there?
“We have a very talented team,” Wilson said. “Especially our defense has done an amazing job.
“As an offense, it is about how efficient we can play as we are showing growth each and every week. Just playing that complementary football and the rest will take care of itself.
“I really think, whether it’s the playoffs or wins if you look at them kind of the same and if everyone does their job and if we rely on each other, the winning and the playoffs kind of takes care of itself.
“That doesn’t need to be the focus.”
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