Zach Wilson went full Leeroy Jenkins during Sunday’s matchup against the Houston Texans and played the best game of his entire NFL career. (If you don’t get that reference, you did not live through the early 2000s YouTube era. Essentially, Wilson dove headfirst into the deep end.)
New York’s former No. 2 overall draft pick went 27-of-36 for 301 yards and two touchdowns. He was decisive, accurate and efficient. He didn’t make any dumb mistakes. The Jets won by 24!
Apparently, there was a reason for Wilson’s strong play. Cornerback D.J. Reed said that his quarterback told him that he was going to play like he had nothing to lose because he literally had nothing to lose.
He told me: “I’m playing for y’all. I have nothing to lose.”
He said: “What’s the worst that can happen, I get benched again?”
That’s whay he said and that’s the way he played. It showed.
— D.J. Reed
It was quite the showing from the league’s most troubled quarterback. Zach Wilson has had a really rough go of it and works within the harshest, most-scrutinized media market in the world.
His rookie season saw two more interceptions than touchdowns. His sophomore season saw one more interception than touchdowns. He was benched on and off last season. He was never supposed to start this year!
Wilson was slated to be the backup behind Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers blew out his Achilles in Week 1.
The Jets lost six of their first 10 games and Wilson got benched. And then they threw him back into the lineup on Sunday. According to Dianna Russini, there was some reluctance from Wilson to return.
In the end, he got back on the field — with absolutely nothing to lose — and played up to his potential for the first time, maybe ever. Wilson looked awesome. He looked like the quarterback that was expected when the team drafted him out of BYU as the future of the franchise.
There is still a long way to go before New York would even sniff the playoffs. However, if Wilson can continue to play like he has nothing to lose, the Jets could get hot down the stretch!