New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson responds to a question during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Perhaps this was the kind of quarterback the New York Jets were hoping to get when they drafted Zach Wilson second overall.
Once thought to be banished after the team traded for Aaron Rodgers, Wilson has taken the reigns as the starting quarterback job for the remainder of the 2023 season and is playing better than anyone has ever seen him play at the NFL level.
“I think that there’s unbelievable signs of him growing, both in starting with the protection, the operation of the cadence, and the motions like we talked about with Denver,” Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said Thursday. “We’re asking him and we’re trying to put more on his plate to have him grow and continue to get better, but sometimes those are things that are first time he’s ever done in a game. So, it’s one of those things just keep growing, keep learning, and keep developing, so we can build all the different routes that we can work on.”
New York may only sit at 2-3 in the young season, but the improved play of Wilson has brought many people the belief that the team could turn around their slow start thanks to Wilson’s play. In the last two games against the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs (1-1 record in those games), Wilson has a completion percentage of over 70% while throwing for over 400 yards.
Arguably the most clear example of how the quarterback has taken a turn in his career is the level of confidence he’s currently playing with.
“Just getting completions in general I think helps and knowing what is going on,” Wilson explained. “knowing what you are doing, knowing what you are trying to execute, seeing what the defense is giving you I think helps all the way around, with just confidence and being able to play fast.”
As much as…
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