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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Urben

Jets QB Zach Wilson reportedly refused to play vs. Falcons

Zach Wilson Jets Zack Wilson Garrett Wilson Aaron Rodgers Robert Saleh Tim Boyle Trevor Siemian NFL Zack Rosenblatt

The New York Jets’ 2023 quarterback situation, ending as it did in a competitive sense a few plays into the regular season when Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tenson, is one of the worst in NFL history.

It’s bad enough at this point that Zach Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft who never quite panned out for the team, is now reluctant to return to the field for the team that drafted him — this per reports from Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

Wilson had started a team-high nine games this season, but has been part of a merry-go-round that showed just how clueless the franchise was with any sort of backup plan for a Rodgers injury. Wilson has completed 190 of 321 passes this season for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 73.8. That’s not amazing by any stretch, but if you stack it up against the performances of Tom Boyle and Trevor Siemian, Rodgers’ other backups in this crazy quilt, Wilson looks like… well, Aaron Rodgers in comparison.

In their 15-8 embarrassment of a loss to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, Boyle completed 14 of 25 passes for 148 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and a passer rating of 56.7 before being benched in “favor” of Siemian, who completed five of 13 passes for 66 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, three sacks, and a passer rating of 55.3.

As for Wilson, he was benched in the Jets’ 32-6 Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and relegated to third quarterback before the Jets’ 34-13 Week 12 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In that Black Friday game, Boyle threw a 99-yard pick-six to Miami safety Jevon Holland.

So, you can understand why Wilson might have some hard feelings about the ways in which things have gone, though he hasn’t come close to looking like a functional starting quarterback in the NFL to date.

The Jets next face the Houston Texans next Sunday. Stay tuned to see who will be suiting up at the game’s most important position!

And meanwhile, you can check out the most prominent responses to this news on social media.

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