Jets owner buries Zach Wilson in rant about 2023 season

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets owner buries Zach Wilson in fiery rant about forgettable 2023 season

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 2/9/24

New York Jets fans have made their feelings about quarterback Zach Wilson very clear over the last two seasons.

And after his comments Thursday night at the NFL Honors event, we now know team owner Woody Johnson shares the same disdain toward the 24-year-old signal-caller as many of the team’s fan base.

Johnson threw Wilson under the bus with one simple statement in which he didn’t even mention the former No. 2 overall pick’s name.

“[We] need a backup quarterback," Johnson said, via ESPN. “We didn't have one last year.”

Johnson’s remarks can’t be taken any other way than a direct shot at Wilson, who started 12 of New York’s 16 games after Aaron Rodgers went down in the season opener with a torn Achilles and was told by the team in January that he was going to be traded, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

Zach Wilson’s time with the Jets is expected to be over because the Jets told him they had plans to trade him this off-season when he was benched, per sources.
This is part of the reason he was reluctant to go back to starting weeks ago.
We’ll see how it all plays out.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 7, 2024

Wilson completed a career-high 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The New York offense struggled to not only move the ball but score points as well despite a near 1,000-yard rushing season from Breece Hall and a 95-reception, 1,042-yard season from No. 1 receiver Garrett Wilson.

At one point, the Jets went 12 consecutive quarters (Oct. 29 to Nov. 19) without scoring a touchdown with Wilson under center, prompting head coach Robert Saleh to bench Wilson in favor of journeyman Tim Boyle.

Johnson made it clear Thursday night that such extended periods of futility won’t be tolerated in 2024.

“The discussions I've had in the last couple of months, they've seen me about as mad as I can be with what was going on, with the offense particularly,” Johnson added. “We have all this talent, and we have to deploy talent properly. So I think they all got the message. This is it. This is the time to go. We've got to produce this year.”

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