Jets Country

Jets Make Zach Wilson Decision For Bears Game

After 20 starts, the former No. 2 overall pick is no longer New York's starting quarterback.

Max Goodman

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Zach Wilson will not start at quarterback against the Bears this week.

New York's players were informed during a team meeting on Wednesday that Wilson will be benched, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

On Monday, following a 10-3 loss to the Patriots featuring 103 total yards on offense, Jets head coach Robert Saleh opened the door to a possible change at quarterback, telling reporters that "everything is on the table."

Backup quarterback Mike White will start on Sunday against Chicago, Saleh announced on Wednesday. Veteran Joe Flacco—who filled in for Wilson during the first three games of the year while he worked back from knee surgery—will be New York's No. 2 quarterback. Wilson will be inactive.

Wilson may be 5-2 this season, but he hasn't been leading the Jets to victory. New York's stunning start to the year has been rooted in the performance of their defense, one of the very best units in the NFL.

The former No. 2 overall pick hasn't taken any steps forward in his second season in green and white, still struggling. On Sunday, the 23-year-old put together his worst performance of the year, arguably of his entire career to this point. Wilson threw for 77 yards, completing just nine of 22 passes in his second loss to New England in a four-week span.

Wilson didn't help himself by failing to take accountability after the game, making comments that reportedly upset some of his teammates behind the scenes. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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