NY Jets bench Zach Wilson, will start Mike White vs. Bears

Zach Wilson benched; Mike White to start for New York Jets

Only 20 games into his career, Zach Wilson has lost his grip on the New York Jets‘ starting quarterback job. Head coach Robert Saleh announced on Wednesday that Mike White will be replacing Wilson as the team’s signal-caller for its Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears.

Coach Saleh announces that QB Mike White will start Sunday vs. Chicago. pic.twitter.com/JiXTlWKu2r

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 23, 2022

Saleh made it clear that Wilson’s career with the Jets “is not over.” He adds that they want to get Wilson back on the field at some point this season and that the “young man needs a reset.” Saleh labeled the benching as a “small setback” that is “not putting a nail in his coffin.”

Coach Saleh says the intent is for QB Zach Wilson to get back on the field at some point this year. pic.twitter.com/R8Cg22B2Wu

— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 23, 2022

Robert Saleh said he gets what benching him says “in the moment.”

“He’s capable of so much more than what he’s playing at … the issues for him are so fixable. But he just needs to reset.”

“We haven’t wavered in our belief that he’s the future of this franchise.” #Jets

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 23, 2022

Saleh says he does not think the Jets’ locker room “hates” Wilson but did say there may be “a little irritation at the moment”.

Robert Saleh said “maybe there’s a little irritation at the moment” but he doesn’t think the #Jets locker room hates Zach Wilson.

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 23, 2022

The Jets plan to make Joe Flacco their backup for Sunday’s game against Chicago. Wilson will be inactive.

Wilson will NOT be active Sunday. Joe Flacco will be Mike White’s backup. #Jets

— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) November 23, 2022

It’s a stunning fall from grace for the man who New York selected with the second overall pick just 19 months ago. Wilson entered the league with tantalizing potential and closed his rookie season looking like an improved quarterback. But through seven games of his second season, Wilson proved to be the primary weakness on a team that appears to be legitimately capable of making a deep playoff run.

In seven starts, Wilson led the Jets to a 5-2 record, but his production wasn’t much assistance in that. Wilson has completed 105 of 189 passes (55.6%) for 1,279 yards (6.8 per attempt), 4 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions (72.6 rating). His QBR is 45.1.

White, 27, will make his fourth NFL start. He played in four games for the Jets last season, starting three. White completed 88 of 132 passes (66.7%) for 953 yards (7.2 per attempt), 5 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions (75.1 rating). He had a 50.5 QBR.

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