Zach Wilson Eager to Earn Trust of Jets Locker Room As He Takes Over for Aaron Rodgers

After reportedly generating tension with his teammates last season, the second-year quarterback has a plan for how to earn the respect of the locker room.

Zach Wilson is officially starting for the Jets’ matchup vs. the Cowboys on Sunday after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in the team’s season opener on Monday.

The young quarterback is coming off a tumultuous year with the Jets, though, after tensions between him and other players, along with poor performance, caused him to be benched for various games during the 2022 season.

The tension in the locker room was sparked by Wilson’s comment after the team’s game vs. the Patriots last season when the quarterback was asked if he thinks he let the defense down, to which he immediately said “no.” Coming from the leader of the offense, the lack of accountability frustrated some of his teammates.

However, it sounds like things have turned around in the locker room this season as Wilson feels like he doesn’t need to re-gain trust in his teammates.

“I don’t think I need to think of it like that—how I go out there and play football will earn the trust of those guys,” Wilson said, via SNY. “I would say I have a very good relationship with everybody in this locker room. ... I would always feel like the guys in this locker room have my back just like I have their back.”

The trust spoken about by Wilson was shown on video during the team’s Week 1 game vs. the Bills on Monday, as various teammates showed support for the second-year quarterback after Rodgers left the game.

On top of feeling better in the locker room, it sounds like Wilson feels more confident in himself, too.

“A lot of confidence,” Wilson said when asked how much confidence he has in himself, via SNY. “I truly believe in myself and I think that’s the first step to being in the NFL. You have to believe in yourself first and the rest will take care of itself.”

Jets coach Robert Saleh has named Wilson the team’s starter for the foreseeable future.