Jets will look to rebrand backup QB room after failing to do so in 2023 after Aaron Rodgers’ injury

The Jets were hoping 2023 was the year Zach Wilson took a step back and rebranded his career after the Of course, that plan never came to fruition after Wilson became the starter once again after four offensive plays into his Week 1 debut against the Bills on Sept. 11. After finishing with a disappointing 7 10 record for the second consecutive year while Wilson struggled, the Jets’ quarterback room will look much different in 2024.

“We are going to get in the meeting room and go over exactly what we need to add to this team,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said on Monday. “I am sure that is going to be one of the topics that is discussed. “We will put a plan in place that helps us to best succeed moving forward. I would say in terms of a veteran backup, that is a high probability.” Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh will return for the 2024 season, according to owner Woody Johnson.

However, their decision to run it back with Wilson after his struggles two years prior typically leads to coaches and general managers being fired. In 2021, During his first two seasons as a starter, Wilson passed for 4,022 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions and was benched twice in 2022. Wilson’s struggles eventually led to the Jets trading for Rodgers last offseason.

The plan was for Wilson to essentially redshirt in 2023 and watch Rodgers from the sideline. Quarterbacks are always one hit away from injury, and the Jets found that out the hard way. The Jets needed an established quarterback in case Rodgers suffered a significant injury. Joe Flacco, who was with the Jets the previous three seasons was available, but the Jets decided to stick with Wilson and Tim Boyle, who had only started three career games at that point.

While the Browns signed Flacco in November and he helped them to an 11 6 record and the fifth seed in the AFC, Wilson was once again inept after becoming the Jets starting quarterback following Rodgers’ injury. He passed for 2,271 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in 12 games this season.

Wilson was eventually benched for Boyle during the third quarter of the He ultimately became the starting quarterback once again after But Wilson suffered a season ending concussion during the Jets’ Week 15 30 0 loss to the Dolphins and Trevor Siemian, , started the season’s final three games. “It would have been great for Zach to have one watch year, that was the intent for this year,” Douglas said.

“I think one of the biggest things that I hate for Zach is that he never got to experience in season Aaron Rodgers, to watch Aaron navigate the highs and lows of a regular season and learn and be around that this year. “Again, that was the intent, to have him have a watch year. But when his number was called, I think Zach improved on every metric that he has ever had here.

Ultimately, a lot of my decisions or the team, it wasn’t good enough, we weren’t good enough this year, but it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort or trying and again.” Now, Wilson’s future with the Jets appears to be over. He didn’t speak to reporters on Monday, which was the day players cleaned out their lockers following the end of the season.

The Deseret News, a newspaper in Wilson’s home state of Utah, reported last month that Saleh told him that the Jets would trade him after the season. Wilson has one year remaining on his rookie contract worth a guaranteed $5.5 million. He is also due to count $11.2 million on the team’s salary cap in 2024.

Gang Green must decide if it will pick up Wilson’s fifth year option for 2025, which is worth around $23 million fully guaranteed. Since that is unlikely, that will open the door to an offseason trade. “I love Zach and I want what’s best for Zach,” Rodgers said. “If he wants to be here and if that’s what’s best for him, then obviously, we’d love to have that relationship for another year.

“I want what’s best for him and where he wants to be. Sometimes, a change of scenery, as I know, can be a breath of fresh air. It’s good to be able to have a new start sometimes, but I love Zach and we’ll still be connected and we’ll see what happens.” With Wilson likely out the door, the Jets will look to upgrade their backup quarterback situation.

Possible options include Titans’ Ryan Tannehill, Colts’ Gardner Minshew, Commanders’ Jacoby Brissett, or Saints’ Jameis Winston, who will all be impending free agents. Douglas and Saleh received a mulligan after Rodgers’ injury. But 2024 is a make or break year because the team has aspirations of not only ending their 13 year playoff drought but also chasing a Super Bowl.

The Jets can’t have the assumption that a 40 year old Rodgers coming off a severe injury will be healthy for a full 17 games. “It’s going to apply to every position, but those are the discussions that Joe and I will have over the next three or four months,” Saleh said about the backup quarterback position.

“We’ll start this week with evaluating the roster and just going over the things that we need to address. The things that we have, the things that we need, but it’s definitely one of those things that we’ll talk about.”.