With Zack Wilson unexpectedly back under center for the Jets in 2023, the third-year quarterback’s first game didn’t appear to pass the eye test for the legendary Peyton Manning.
Appearing on ESPN’s ManningCast, Peyton couldn’t contain his disdain for the much-criticized Wilson’s play after being thrusted into Monday’s Jets-Bills game following a first-quarter ankle injury to Aaron Rodgers.
Midway through the third quarter, Eli Manning asked Peyton if Wilson, who had thrown it 12 times up to that point, would throw ball 25 times by the end of the game, prompting him to unleash an epic eye roll as he replied to his brother’s question.
“No,” Manning said bluntly, “Three more at the most, three more pass attempts.”
As the Wilson-led offense looked to make a play, Peyton wildly threw his hands in the air when the 24-year-old QB frantically scrambled backwards in order to avoid a sack.
“Let’s just go backwards, let’s just run backwards,” Manning said with his arms folded. “Looks like Kurt Russell in…”
Peyton Manning seems to hate watching Zach Wilson play football 😶
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 12, 2023
(🎥 TSV__1)pic.twitter.com/oPxVJrOhcYhttps://t.co/6NI2ZZUH3y
While the clearly perturbed Manning didn’t get to finish his jab due to a stoppage in play for a penalty, the Pro Football Hall of Famer likely would’ve chosen a doozy of a movie reference to sum up his opinion of Wilson’s effort.
After abruptly filling-in for the injured Rodgers, Wilson struggled against a formidable Bills defense en route to compiling a 14-of-21 stat line for 140 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
