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After largely looking like the draft bust NFL fans had come to expect in his first two games filling in for Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson has shown legitimate signs of life in recent weeks.
Although it came in a loss, Wilson played arguably the best game of his NFL career against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 and became the first QB in the history of Patrick Mahomes’ college and professional career to outplay him.
Then, last week against the Denver Broncos, Wilson played an efficient albeit unspectacular game in Gang Green’s win over the Broncos, which is really all the team needs from him in order to win games.
Speaking to the media this week, wide receiver Allen Lazard credited much-maligned offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who he also played under in Green Bay, with helping Wilson develop and look like a legitimate NFL signal-caller.
“Zach did a great job, just conducting himself the whole game. He put us in a great position to be successful. A lot of his throws were catchable. For him to be able to kind of bounce back these past two weeks, and just show his true self and his ability at quarterback, because he’s super talented, was great to see,” Lazard told reporters.
“I give a lot of credit to Hackett as well. The play calls, and the design of the plays, are just putting Zach in the best position to be successful.”
While the Jets will be facing a far sterner test than the Denver Broncos this weekend — they’ll be hosting the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles — their schedule eases up significantly from this point on, meaning if Wilson can continue to show growth, the team will maintain momentum even in losses.
The Jets had one of the hardest schedules in the league to open the year, as they had to face off against the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles in their first six games.
Over the next few weeks, however, the Jets will play teams such as the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Los Angeles Chargers.