AP

Jets’ Wilson wasn’t ready to return so soon from reboot

Dec 22, 2022, 9:49 PM | Updated: Dec 23, 2022, 2:53 pm

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) hands off the ball to New York Jets running back Michael ...

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) hands off the ball to New York Jets running back Michael Carter (32) during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Zach Wilson’s reset needed more time.

The New York Jets benched the second-year quarterback for three games so he could work on his mechanics, fundamentals and mental approach.

But Wilson was forced back into action in the middle of a playoff push because of Mike White’s rib injury — and the flaws in his game are still very much present. And perhaps worse than ever.

Being replaced by Chris Streveler, a fourth-string practice squad quarterback, in a 19-3 loss to Jacksonville on Thursday night to give the offense a spark was further evidence Wilson isn’t the guy the Jets hoped for when they drafted him No. 2 overall last year.

And the Jets (7-8) have gone from playoff contenders to a team on a four-game skid with serious questions about its future at the quarterback spot.

“I don’t second-guess any decisions that we made,” coach Robert Saleh said Friday. “Some of them were forced because of injury, some of them were looking at the players on the team, and the quarterback is the most important position on the team. If the quarterback is playing well, everything falls into place.

“Feel like we have a damn good defense, our run game was going pretty good (and) it’s kind of failed us the last couple of weeks. Again, starts with us. And getting good quarterback play is what gets every team over the hump.”

Saleh pointed to the Jets’ last four opponents — Minnesota, Buffalo, Detroit and Jacksonville — having exactly that against them.

“This is the time for defenses and quarterback play to elevate, along with the run game,” Saleh said.

In the short-term, the Jets don’t have that difficult a decision: If White is healthy enough to play at Seattle on Jan. 1, he’ll be under center. Saleh said the team will hold off on determining their starting quarterback until more evaluations and tests are done on White’s broken ribs over the weekend and early next week.

But if White can’t play, it’s uncertain if it’ll be Wilson or Joe Flacco — or even Streveler — in his place.

“We’ve got time,” Saleh said. “I don’t have those answers for you yet.”

While the Jets insisted they liked where Wilson was physically after sitting out three games, it was unrealistic to think his issues could be totally fixed in that short a time.

And now there’s another major factor in the big picture for Wilson.

“Confidence is a big deal,” Saleh said. “It’s a tough thing to try to overcome, but it doesn’t take much to flip confidence.

“He just needs to get on a little run, just a couple things happen, go his way.”

WHAT’S WORKING

Hopefully the antacids frustrated Jets fans were probably popping as they watched their team’s playoff hopes all but fizzle out on a cold, wet and windy night at MetLife Stadium. The Jets are on the verge of missing the postseason for the 12th straight season, the longest active skid in the NFL.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

What doesn’t? The coaching, the quarterback, the running game, the offensive line are all culprits. The defense has been solid all season, but even Jeff Ulbrich’s unit has been susceptible to breakdowns — such as the 96-yard touchdown drive engineered by Trevor Lawrence.

“It’s absolutely not our standard,” Ulbrich said. “To give up a 96-yard drive is not acceptable, by any means.”

STOCK UP

Streveler. The former CFL quarterback who helped lead Winnipeg to the Grey Cup during the 2019 season topped the Jets in rushing with 54 yards on nine carries. He was 10 of 15 for 90 yards, although most of his throws were hardly crisp. But on a night when Wilson and the offense struggled mightily, Streveler was a bright spot.

STOCK DOWN

Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. The focus has been on Wilson, and deservedly so. But LaFleur has failed to put the quarterback in a position to succeed by switching things up in his play calling. Wilson has shown he’s more effective out of the pocket, especially with a porous offensive line. But there has been little deviation from that by LaFleur, who declined to say why other quarterbacks not named Wilson have made plays in his offense.

“I’m not trying to compare Zach to all the other guys,” LaFLeur said. “I’ve got to figure it out and figure out how to get him in a rhythm and I haven’t done that.”

INJURIES

The Jets came out of the game without any new injuries. The status of White’s ribs will be the focus as New York begins preparations for their game at Seattle.

KEY NUMBER

72.8 — Wilson’s passer rating is the second worst among second-year quarterbacks in the last 15 seasons with a minimum of eight starts. The only player worse was the Rams’ Sam Bradford at 70.5 in 2011. And yes, that even includes Denver’s Tim Tebow (72.9 in 2011).

NEXT STEPS

The Jets are barely in the postseason hunt and finish with two road games, at Seattle and Miami.

“Thinking playoffs is far-fetched,” Saleh said. “But at the same time, we’ve done a lot of really, really cool things this year and the most important thing right now is finishing strong.”

AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Jets’ Wilson wasn’t ready to return so soon from reboot