New York Jets star Zach Wilson has been praised for his professionalism by coach Robert Saleh after losing his starting quarterback spot to four-time NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, 39, completed a blockbuster trade to the Jets in April following nearly two decades at the Green Bay Packers, where he won just one Super Bowl. The Jets hope that the NFL veteran can help fire the franchise to its first Super Bowl since the late 60s, as well as turn their fortunes around following underperformance in recent decades too.
The quarterback's arrival has pushed Wilson back in the pecking order. The 23-year-old was selected second overall by the Jets in 2021 but he has struggled to show the promise that earned him such a high selection.
And despite being dislodged by Rodgers, who in a season, or two, or more, could decide to walk away from the sport, Wilson has remained professional. There is universal hope that with Wilson working under Rodgers, the young QB could fulfil his potential, with coach Saleh talking up his young star at OTAs.
"I think it's been good," Saleh said in a press conference when asked about the Wilson-Rodgers work dynamic. "[I] thought Zach [Wilson] had a really nice day yesterday. He's been a sponge - I think Zach has handled this as good as a professional can handle this.
"I'm excited for him because I think he's approaching this in a way where I think he can grow from this, with the mindset of which he's approaching. And there's no doubt in my mind that Zach is going to get so much better through this experience. And I'm confident that he is going to turn into the player we know he can be."
Wilson is a big fan of Rodgers, who was his inspiration growing up. "As long as I can remember playing football, I was a big fan,’’ Wilson said of Rodgers. “We didn’t have an NFL team in Utah, so I wouldn’t say I was a Packers fan, but I was just an Aaron Rodgers fan. I grew up watching him. He was the quarterback I tried to replicate and steal things from. I like the way he plays the game.’’
Whether Wilson has had the chance to tell Rodgers to his face that he is his idol is unknown. "I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned that to him, but I’ve been watching him ever since I was a little kid," Wilson said last year. "I was trying to replicate the way he throws, the way he plays the game.’’
And on what he can learn from Rodgers, Wilson added: "A little bit of everything. He’s extremely accurate underneath. The way he’s able to place the ball, and you see his completion percentage, how he takes care of the ball, and then he’s able to be that athletic, scramble-type quarterback a little bit, off-schedule, being able to create plays out of nothing while protecting himself. I like the way he plays in the offense and outside of the offense.’’
