Robert Saleh Insists He Won’t Bench Zach Wilson to ‘Pacify’ Naysayers

The Jets don’t have better options at quarterback.

Jets fans hoping for Robert Saleh to bench quarterback Zach Wilson following Week 10’s loss to the Raiders will likely be disappointed by what the coach said on Monday.

Despite the offense scoring only 12 points and no touchdowns Sunday night, Saleh will continue to stick with Wilson as the Jets’ starting QB. Based on what he said to reporters, the coach doesn’t believe quarterback play is the problem right now.

“I get it, there’s a yearning for more,” Saleh said. “But I feel like he played a good game yesterday. He’ll admit that he’d want that interception back. But it is hard to make changes just to make changes, just to pacify something, especially when someone is not deserving. If he was deserving of it, I got you. Let’s change something.”

Frustrated fans might not agree, but Saleh is also looking at a roster that doesn’t give him a viable alternative. The backup quarterback is Tim Boyle, who threw eight passes last season. And even if the Jets brought in someone like Carson Wentz, which they declined to do, he would have to learn the offensive scheme quickly and play-calling would probably be limited.

"I get it, there's a yearning for more, but I feel like he played a good game yesterday. It is hard to make changes just to pacify something, especially when someone is not deserving."

- Robert Saleh on Zach Wilson pic.twitter.com/bXQ9sCQZ9k

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 13, 2023

Wilson passed for 262 yards in the loss to Las Vegas, completing 59% of his passes. But he did throw an interception to Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane with 1:22 remaining in the game, which effectively ended any chance the Jets had to win. 

However, running backs Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook only rushed for 54 yards combined. Wilson matched that total by himself. No other pass-catcher other than receiver Garrett Wilson (nine catches for 93 yards) and tight end Tyler Conklin (seven receptions for 70 yards) made an impact. 

Saleh’s best hope is probably for Aaron Rodgers to make the miraculous recovery from a torn Achilles that he’s pursuing. Unless that happens, he has to stick with Wilson.

The Jets (4–5) travel to Buffalo (5–4, pending Monday night’s game vs. the Broncos) for Week 11. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.