Zach Wilson ‘Reluctant’ to Start at QB Again for Floundering Jets, per Report

The struggling New York Jets QB reportedly wants no parts of being under center again this season.

The Jets are in quite a pickle. 

New York, which suffered its fifth consecutive defeat with a 13–8 loss to the Falcons on Sunday, watched as its struggling offense failed to score a touchdown, resulting in another quarterback benching. This time, it was Tim Boyle heading to the pine, with Trevor Siemian entering the game in the fourth quarter.

With injured QB Aaron Rodgers unlikely to return this season, the Jets are considering making a change at the position again, and they reportedly would like for embattled signal-caller Zach Wilson to return as the starter. There’s just one problem. Wilson reportedly is “reluctant” to reclaim that role, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. 

The Jets want to make a switch at QB. The team is leaning towards Zach Wilson to take over, but he is reluctant to stepping back in, sources tell @zackBlatt and me. The team is discussing next steps. More on @theathletic shortly.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 4, 2023

Wilson, the No. 2 pick of the first round in the 2021 NFL draft, has endured a rocky start to his career, as he has been benched in each of the past two seasons as a playoff-caliber New York team fell short of the postseason. 

There was a belief among members of the Jets organization and fans that perhaps Wilson, who filled in for Aaron Rodgers after his Achilles tear in September, would have soaked up enough information from the four-time NFL MVP to be at least serviceable as a starter. 

That has not come to fruition. The historically poor Jets offense has mustered just two touchdowns in their past five games with three different QBs under center during that span. 

That said, Wilson, who offers some semblance of playmaking ability with his legs, perhaps gives the team its best chance to win. New York (4—8) is quickly fading out of the playoff picture in the AFC with a Week 14 date against the visiting Texans (7–5) looming Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.