New York Jets Quarterback Zach Wilson is back on the field after being sidelined for over a month due to a knee injury during the preseason. After surgery on his meniscus in August, he was estimated to return to play in Week 1— but he didn’t start playing until Week 4.
“That was an ugly win, but that was some of the most fun I’ve had playing football,” Wilson said after he brought his A-game on Sunday with a 24-20 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The young man doesn’t flinch,” NY Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.
And he certainly does not.
As QB, Wilson’s responsibility with his team is to throw touchdowns, not catch touchdowns. To many, it came as a shock when he caught a 2-yard TD pass from Braxton Berrios. In celebration, Wilson broke out into “the griddy.”
“This is probably the most comfortable I’ve ever felt coming into a game,” Wilson said.
“It’s really just exciting for him to get back on the football field. I’ve been watching him since his BYU days and that guy is just different,” said Jack Whitten, a student at Brigham Young University. “Seeing him come back and win when all odds were against him, was just awesome. He belongs out there and deserves the #1 spot. That white boy can hit a griddy.”
The Jets now stand at 2-2 after a comeback win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 led by Veteran backup QB Joe Flacco.
“If I can say one thing about Zack Wilson is that he rises to the occasion. He may not be as polished as an elite QB in the NFL but he has all the tools to become one,” said Matthew Mirabito, 22, Stony Brook University graduate student. “I’m glad to see this knee injury wasn’t a setback in his play and I’m excited to see what he does for the rest of the year.”
The team is on the right path with rookie receiver Garrett Wilson living up to his draft stock and first-year running back Breece Hall, who has built momentum and shown he is growing more comfortable each week.
Wilson, the second-year quarterback, is bringing his team together and will keep working to turn around the franchise.
