New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh revealed on Wednesday that quarterback Zach Wilson is still in concussion protocol and will be unavailable for the team’s Week 18 season finale against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Not only does it bring his 2023 season to an end, but potentially his Jets career, too.
“He battled. He fought. He’s a fighter, he really is,” Saleh said (h/t SNY). “There are things that I know he wishes he could have back. There are a lot of things he improved on. Some things were out of his control. I’ve said it and I’ll say it again: I think he’s going to have a long career in this league.”
When asked if that long career would be with the Jets, Saleh was hesitant — which certainly provides the writing on the wall that the 24-year-old could be playing his football elsewhere next season.
“We’ll see,” Saleh said. “These are all things we’re going to have to talk about once the season’s over. Whether it’s here or somewhere else, I believe he’s going to have a hell of a career.”
Slated to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers this season after the future Hall-of-Famer was acquired by the Jets, Wilson was forced back under center when the 40-year-old suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
In 12 games (11 starts), he went 4-7 while completing 60.1% of his passes (a career-high) for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
After completing 7-of-15 passes for 81 yards with a touchdown and interception, Wilson was benched late in the third quarter during a 32-6 Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He sat for the following two games for Trevor Siemian before getting the nod for Week 14 against the Houston Texans — one of the finest games of his career where he completed 75% of his passes (27-of-36) for 301 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Just before halftime of an embarrassing 30-0 Week 15 loss to the Miami Dolphins, the former No. 2 overall pick and once-perceived franchise quarterback suffered the concussion that has kept him sidelined since.
All the while, controversy wasn’t too far behind. Reports indicated that before his return to the starting role in Week 14, he was reluctant to suit back up for the Jets. Then, after suffering his concussion in Week 15, Wilson’s mother said that he hid his symptoms to play more.
Across 34 career games with the Jets, Wilson put up a measly 57% completion rating with 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 25 interceptions.
