Jets’ Coach Robert Saleh Dismisses Zach Wilson ‘Conspiracy Theory’ Linked to Jets Brass

In the context of a lost game, it was just a drop. As the Jets stormed down the field for a final drive that could only erase a fraction of their 21-point deficit, Zach Wilson tried to connect with C.J. Uzomah in the end zone, but the ball bounced off the tight end’s chest, hand, foot and then hand again.

Uzomah apologized to Wilson.

“Felt like s–t,” he told The Post.

But Wilson, with the Jets sputtering again, flipped the blame and said, “I should’ve got the ball up to you.”

That meant something to Uzomah, and he felt it captured an important element of Wilson, too.

“I’m like, ‘Dude, no, it was a f–king perfect ball,’ ” Uzomah said. “ ‘What’re you talking about? I gotta catch that.’ ”

In moments like that, Uzomah knew Wilson hadn’t lost command of the huddle.

He hadn’t strayed from shouldering blame, even as Uzomah pinned it on everyone else around Wilson.

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson calls a play during Sunday’s Chargers game on Nov. 5, 2023.
Robert Sabo for NY Post

The Jets, according to head coach Robert Saleh, aren’t receiving demands from the front office to keep playing Wilson despite a poor offense.

They’re in lockstep with the decision.

And as Wilson nears the one-year anniversary of Saleh benching him for Mike White, Uzomah has sensed growth from Wilson in a situation like this, too.

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is sacked during a loss to the Chargers on Nov. 5, 2023.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“I think when he’s in the huddle and he’s in the pocket, when he’s saying stuff to us, it’s a completely different person [from last year],” Uzomah said.

Saleh reiterated Wednesday that the Jets don’t plan to give Tim Boyle or Trevor Siemian first-team practice reps, and he also said Wilson has put the Jets in position to win games — citing the Giants, Broncos and Eagles games.

“We’re all on the same page with [Wilson starting],” Saleh said. “So any conspiracy theory that might be out there, we’re on the same page.”

Zach Wilson walks off the field following a 27-6 loss to the Chargers.
Robert Sabo for NY Post

Still, the Jets (4-4) are at a crossroads — again — with their quarterback, with Wilson out of rhythm after early-season strides and Aaron Rodgers still recovering from his torn Achilles.

Their offense changed. Wilson does not possess the same freedom Rodgers had.

“Obviously, it’s not the Greatest Show on Turf,” Saleh said. “Obviously, he knows that there’s a lot of things that he can do better. There’s a lot of things we can all do better. And yeah, he needs to get better. He knows that.

“But I know the knee-jerk reaction is to always hit the panic button … He’s doing the best he can. But again, he still needs to get better.”

There hasn’t been tension or drama like last season, when Garrett Wilson, then a rookie, blasted the offense following a Nov. 20 loss and said “this s–t’s sorry.”

That had tension. That had drama, even though Garrett Wilson didn’t specifically target his quarterback.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaks to the media on Nov. 8, 2023.
Bill Kostroun for New York Post

Before the Jets’ next game, Saleh turned to Mike White.

This week, after Monday’s loss to the Chargers, Breece Hall said the offense needs to “grow up” and Garrett Wilson called it “disappointing,” but specifically backed the third-year quarterback.

Still, the pressure keeps mounting — for Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, for anyone and everyone associated with the Jets — to end their 12-year playoff drought, especially with their defense allowing the ninth-fewest yards and eighth-fewest points per game.

“I think the NFL season is a roller coaster,” Zach Wilson said. “I feel like I’m in a good spot, and it sucks because we’re not doing a lot offensively, but progressively, each week I feel more and more comfortable, I feel like I’m getting better and that’s all you can do, really, in my eyes.”

When Saleh gathered the Jets for a preseason meeting captured by “Hard Knocks,” he challenged the offensive line to not be the reason the offense dragged.

Saleh hyped up Allen Lazard. He hyped up Garrett Wilson.

And he said — with plenty of f-bombs — that nothing mattered until the “big boys up front change who the f–k we are.”

“We proved last year that we’re a 7-10 football team with a really f–king good defense and a mediocre offense,” Saleh said at the time.

The defense has remained strong. The offense has remained mediocre — and the issue swelled beyond the offensive line. Lazard called his season, which featured a brutal game Monday with three penalties and a drop, “uncharacteristic” and “nowhere near where I want it to be.” Offensive lineman Max Mitchell took blame for a sack or two Monday.

The Jets keep standing by Wilson, too. The pressure for a spark only increases with each passing week, though.

“There’s a lot on Zach’s plate,” Lazard said. “I think he’s been progressing pretty well, just how he’s been able to handle the game plan and how he’s been able to conduct the offense during the games.

“But obviously, there’s still a lot of room to grow.”

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson calls a play during Sunday’s Chargers game on Nov. 5, 2023.Robert Sabo for NY Post
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is sacked during a loss to the Chargers on Nov. 5, 2023.Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is sacked during a loss to the Chargers on Nov. 5, 2023.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Zach Wilson walks off the field following a 27-6 loss to the Chargers.Zach Wilson walks off the field following a 27-6 loss to the Chargers.Robert Sabo for NY Post
Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaks to the media on Nov. 8, 2023.Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaks to the media on Nov. 8, 2023.Bill Kostroun for New York Post

Advertisement

Related Posts

Elon Musk Unveils the Next-Gen Tesla Cybertruck: Groundbreaking Design, Performance Upgrades, and First Look!

Desigп Evolυtioп: Exterior:  The пew Cybertrυck retaiпs its icoпic aпgυlar desigп bυt iпtrodυces refiпed aerodyпamics aпd a more streamliпed profile. The staiпless steel exoskeletoп has beeп reiпforced for iпcreased dυrability, aпd the vehicle пow featυres …

Read more

¡Descubre las Ideas Más Impresionantes para Tatuajes en la Muñeca que Transformarán Tu Estilo y Te Harán Destacar con Orgullo!

Los tatuajes en la muñeca están volviendo con fuerza. Y a la gente le encantan por una razón. A diferencia de un tatuaje en la manga o un tatuaje en la espalda, son visibles la mayor parte del tiempo. Por eso, los tatuajes en la muñeca son más bien un recordatorio, tatuajes dedicados a nosotros mismos. …

Read more

Jason Kelce’s Wife Kylie Shares Adorable Video of 4-Year-Old Wyatt Asking Uncle Travis About Marrying Taylor Swift—His Reply Has Fans Saying ‘Travis Is in Trouble!’

It’s a secret so hot it could have melted the Buffalo snow, and it was sealed with a kiss on New Year’s Eve. Fans swooned over pictures of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s midnight kiss in Kansas City – but little did they know the couple was not only …

Read more

Travis Kelce Spotted Arriving at Taylor Swift’s $25M Beverly Hills Mansion—Fans Are Buzzing About What’s Happening Inside!

Trаᴠιs Kеlcе а𝚗Ԁ Tаylor Swιft аrе co𝚗tι𝚗uι𝚗ɡ to tаƙе tҺеιr rеlаtιo𝚗sҺιρ to 𝚗еw ҺеιɡҺts ι𝚗 tҺе off-sеаso𝚗, а𝚗Ԁ tҺе loᴠеԀ-uρ ρаιr sρе𝚗t yеt а𝚗otҺеr Ԁаy toɡеtҺеr ι𝚗 Los A𝚗ɡеlеs o𝚗 TuеsԀаy.
Nеw ρҺotos а𝚗Ԁ ᴠιԀеos of Kеlcе sҺow tҺе NFL stаr а𝚗Ԁ …

Read more

Mike Tomlin’s Son Mayce Reacts to a Viral Photo of His Parents That Has Steelers Fans Talking: ‘Y’all Are Out of Control!’

Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007. His demeanor on the field and his famous “Tomlin-isms” are what NFL fans know him for. However, a throwback photo of him and his wife, Kiya, has caught everyone off guard. Even …

Read more

Is Le’Veon Bell Joining OnlyF**s? Ex-Steelers RB’s Shocking Plans Earn Unexpected Support From Allie Rae!

As he is currently a free agent, Le’Veon Bell has been experimenting with different career choices. The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back has now joined OnlyF**s, which garnered a positive reply from one of the top earning content creator of the …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *