The New York Jets have officially benched quarterback Zach Wilson for this week’s game against the Chicago Bears. Mike White will get the start on Sunday.
Wilson completed only nine of 22 passes for 77 yards in Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Following the game, Wilson gave a cryptic one-word answer when as if he felt he let the defense down by not getting the team into the end zone or even field goal range, Wilson said “no.”
That attitude coupled with wide negative reaction from teammates such as Garret Wilson, John Frankin-Meyers and Sauce Gardner may have been enough for Head Coach Robert Saleh and his staff to make a move.Although Saleh sidestepped that theory in Wednesday’s press conference.
On Wednesday before Saleh spoke to the media, word broke that Wilson would be benched.
“We are going to roll with Mike White. We know he is fully capable in this league, and we want to give him an opportunity,” Saleh said.
“Zach’s career here is not over. The intent is to make sure Zach gets back on the field here this year. When that is I will make that decision day to day. There are some basic fundamental things that have gotten out of whack for him. This will allow him to reconnect with some of the things we fell in love with in the draft process.”
Coach Saleh says the intent is for QB Zach Wilson to get back on the field at some point this year. pic.twitter.com/R8Cg22B2Wu
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 23, 2022
Saleh wouldn’t say how many starts White would get. Joe Flacco will be White’s back-up as Wilson will be inactive this week.