Zach Wilson Went From Being Benched and Blamed to Playing the Best Game of His Career

Zach Wilson threw for 301 yards and had Jets fans recanting all the bad things they've said about him.

Jets quarterback Zach Wilson has had a pretty rough year.

Through the offseason, Wilson likely believed he would be spending the season under the tutelage of Aaron Rodgers, who could help him learn enough to rebuild himself into a successful quarterback in the next chapter of his career.

Instead, an untimely injury thrust Wilson back into the starting role for the Jets, and after several benchings, all the way down to third on the depth chart behind the likes of Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian.

But Boyle and Siemien didn't work out great either, and suddenly it was Wilson who was asked to step back into the starting role. While it was reported that Wilson was hesitant to get back under center for the Jets after what happened earlier in the year, he took on the role, and in Week 14 against the Texans, he shined.

New York and Houston both got off to rocky starts, playing through an ugly 0–0 first half that saw 11 punts combined between the two teams. But Wilson found his footing in the second half, helping the Jets offense put 30 points on the board in the second half and leading his team to victory.

At times, Wilson made plays that reminded fans why the football world was so high on him coming out of BYU.

LOOK AT ZACH WILSON
pic.twitter.com/JBYJ3Gx9n8

— PFF (@PFF) December 10, 2023

Wilson finished the game with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns. It was just the third time in his career that he cleared 300 yards passing, and the first time it happened in a Jets win.

After the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh had high praise for his quarterback.

"The second half, I thought Zach probably played the best game of his career," Saleh said after the game. "Just the off-schedule stuff, the timing and rhythm, getting the ball out to where it needed to get to, being aggressive but smart at the same time.

Coach Saleh on @ZachWilson's second half performance. pic.twitter.com/J54KIToqkW

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 10, 2023

Saleh wasn't the only one singing Wilson's praises, as football fans across the league described how happy they were for Wilson's turnaround.

Nothing to lose Zach Wilson is fun to watch https://t.co/EcwuRqkD0U

— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) December 10, 2023

Gettin benched for Tim Boyle turned him into Rodgers lol https://t.co/ooHQqIQxUE

— Immanuel (@OwuorGoat) December 10, 2023

The Jets are currently 5–8 and face an uphill battle to make the postseason. But with a rejuvenated Wilson under center, their season may not be entirely lost.