ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Zach Wilson is running out of opportunities and a key backer in his bid to keep his starting job with the New York Jets.
After spending weeks defending Wilson against growing criticism, coach Robert Saleh was noncommittal regarding his starter moving forward following the Jets’ latest offensive dud in a 32-6 loss to the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
“We are going to watch the tape and we’ll make a decision (Monday),” said Saleh, whose Jets (4-6) face a short week in preparing to play division rival Miami (7-3) on Friday. “We’ll look at all of it. I’m not really answering those questions yet.”
The coach opened the door for a quarterback change by benching Wilson and replacing him with backup Tim Boyle with 2:17 left in the third quarter. Neither was effective in an outing New York finished with season lows in total yards (155) and points, and finished 0 for 11 on third-down conversions against a Bills defense that began the game missing three key starters and ended it without three defensive backs.
Wilson went 7 of 15 for 81 yards and a touchdown — the Jets’ first in three games — with an interception. Boyle went 7 of 14 for 33 yards and an INT.
“Frustrated, but I get it,” said Wilson, the Jets’ first-round draft pick in 2021 who has been starting since Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles’ tendon four snaps into his debut in the season opener, leaving Wilson to lead the Jets’ rally to a 22-16 overtime win against the Bills.
“When things aren’t getting done, change has got to be made,” Wilson said. “And I understand that.”
The 29-year-old Boyle made his Jets debut after previous stints with the Packers, Lions and Bears.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) walks on the field during the fourth quarter an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
