Zach Wilson’s season is over with Jets future up in the air

Zach Wilson’s season is over and his Jets career might be, too. Head coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday that Wilson will not clear the concussion protocol in time to start the season finale against the Patriots. Trevor Siemian will start for the third straight game. With Aaron Rodgers preparing to return as the starter next season, Wilson’s future is cloudy at best.

The Jets could look for an alternative as the backup quarterback after Wilson led the Jets to five wins in 12 games with eight touchdowns and seven touchdowns in his third year. “I thought he had a great OTAs, great training camp,” Saleh said. “I thought he battled. He is fighter, he really is.

I know there’s things he wishes he could have back. I know there’s a lot of things he improved on. Some things were out of his control. I’ve said it and I’ll say it again: I think he’s going to have a long career in this league.” Is that long career going to be with the Jets? “We’ll see,” Saleh said.

“It’s all things that we are going to have to talk about once the season is over, but whether it’s here or somewhere, I believe he’s going to have a hell of a career.” Wilson is guaranteed $5.45 million in salary and is due to count $11.1 million against the Jets’ salary cap in 2024. The Jets — or whatever team he is on — have to exercise or decline on his fifth year contractual option by early May.

That’s a similar situation to what the Jets were in when they traded Sam Darnold to the Panthers to make room to draft Wilson in 2021..