Robert Saleh knows what the New York Jets are going to get from the Zach Wilson experience. Part of the reason New York even traded for Aaron Rodgers in the offseason was that Wilson, quite literally, wasn’t good enough to be a quarterback for a contending team.
But with Rodgers out thanks to a season-ending Achilles injury, the Jets once again had to start Wilson against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. Predictably, the former No. 2 overall pick played horribly in a 27-6 loss. Sure, his final numbers (33-of-49 for 263 yards) might not look awful, but folks, that is an average of 5.3 yards per pass attempt. And his Jets offense reached the red zone on just two occasions (zero cash-ins).
After the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh refused to harshly criticize Wilson. If anything, he actually sounded like he was happy Wilson didn’t play worse.
I totally get it:
Robert Saleh was asked if tonight's game was a step back for Zach Wilson:
"Was is it his best game? Obviously not. Was it his worst game? No, I'm not going to even say it was close to his worst game." pic.twitter.com/EdSU56cUhs
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 7, 2023
Woof. I know a backhanded compliment when I hear one. The Jets might be completely screwed with Wilson regardless, but even Saleh knows his play can always be more terrible. I guess that’s the bar for 2023 Zach Wilson: at least he didn’t sail more horrific passes.
This was how Twitter reacted to Saleh's acceptance of Wilson being wful
Was the rotten egg salad sandwich the worst meal I ate? No. There was that one time I ate old gas station sushi, so this wasn't close to my worst meal. https://t.co/Zn3eioVpX0
— Joe Caporoso (@JCaporoso) November 7, 2023
To be fair, it wasn't his worst game. This one sits right between the Patriots 3 pick game from last year and the Jaguars game where he was removed at the half for a Canadian rugby player named Clark Straggler or whatever. https://t.co/cHO3qF3i2D
— Bobby Panzenbeck (@Panzenbeck) November 7, 2023
I have NEVER seen a bar so low for an NFL QB, let alone the former number 2 overall pick.
If Joe Douglas inherited this team, he would’ve drafted Darnold and personally drove Zach Wilson to the airport. https://t.co/wk2ndytAyS
— Baby Yoda Sitter (@BabyYodaSitter) November 7, 2023
I get why he has to say this… but we didn’t have a shot tonight. Zach Wilson will never be the answer and as much as we all looked for the positives, tonight showed us it isn’t possible to succeed with him. https://t.co/9r0Cmpgs1S
— TGcurse (@TGcurse) November 7, 2023
Shows you how bad Zach Wilson is. https://t.co/n6kO8RjvXJ
— Zach Gelb (@ZachGelb) November 7, 2023
It's really not a surprise the team is such an undisciplined mess when the coach holds absolutely nobody accountable https://t.co/JgBEtj5jOK
— RJ Barrett Wallace (@costanzaseason) November 7, 2023
This tells you all you need to know about this bust of a QB https://t.co/qZrzJeXruk
— Noah Schwartz (@_noahschwartz_) November 7, 2023
Isn’t that wild that what we just saw is not even close to Zach’s worst game? https://t.co/4yqKrVugCl
— Matt (@selldit) November 7, 2023
That’s the problem, it was bad and can be worse….. https://t.co/aMrrHgPLuS
— JC Jets Jets Jets (@jcjetsjetsjets) November 7, 2023
