New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson will be given another starting opportunity on Sunday, as Mike White was not cleared to play by doctors.
Wilson was drafted by the Jets in 2021, but was removed from the starting line-up after a series of dire performances. Head coach Robert Saleh insisted the team always planned for him to return in 2022, but claimed they were working on him in practice to "try to get him back to what we know he can be."
But a rib injury to White has ruled him out of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, and Wilson will come back in to start. White had been training and wanted to play, but the decision has been taken out of his hands.
The Jets had been preparing for this all week, as Wilson has received the majority of practice reps this week. But after an official decision has been made, he will be getting all of them on Friday and Saturday. "This is going to be a great opportunity for Zach," said Saleh.
Wilson was the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, and the second of five quarterbacks taken in the first round. He signed a four-year deal, but finished with an underwhelming 3-10 record last season.
It's not been his 2022 either, as he missed the first three games of the season due to a non-contact bone bruise sustained in pre-season. However, after starting in week four the Jets went on a four-game winning streak with Wilson in the line-up.
But he was later demoted to the third-string backup behind White and second-string backup Joe Flacco, with Saleh calling it a 'healthy scratch'. "He's been doing a great job," Saleh said, via NFL Media.
"He's been deliberate every day in practice. He's been taking it very seriously, obviously. Our quarterbacks coach, Rob Calabrese, has been working with him extra and so has Mike LaFleur. And so it's all hands on deck to try to get him back to what we know he can be."
So a lot of work has been going in behind the scenes, and the Jets are having a much better season than they were in the last campaign. However, despite being 7-6 for the year, they're fourth in the AFC East, tied with the New England Patriots and trailing Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.
But the injury to White has offered Wilson another opportunity, and it's one that the Jets will be hoping he takes after extensive work behind the scenes. Wilson is still only 23, and still has a bright future.
There are only four games left in the regular season, and it's yet to be seen how many Wilson will be picked to start. He will be eager to prove himself against the Lions, who will be keen to win and stay ahead of Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.
