The trajectory of the New York Jets’ season took a turn for the worst in Week 1. On the fourth play of his career with Gang Green, Aaron Rodgers suffered what turned out to be a torn left Achilles. That ended his season and most likely the team’s chances of contending for a Super Bowl as well.
In his place, the Jets turned to Zach Wilson. The No. 2 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft helped the team pick up an upset victory over the Buffalo Bills in relief in Week 1, but things didn’t go anywhere near as successfully in Week 2.
The Jets had their doors blown off by the Dallas Cowboys 30-10 in a game that wasn’t even as close as the 20-point deficit would suggest. New York’s defense did enough to hold Dallas to five field goals, but Wilson was unable to get anything going on offense.
He finished the game completing 12-of-27 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His stats are a lot worse than the surface would suggest as 68 of those 170 yards came on a slant pass to Garrett Wilson which he took for a catch-and-run touchdown.
Take that play out and this is the same old Wilson Jets fans have become accustomed to the last two seasons. Performances like that are going to torpedo their chances to compete, which has some analysts suggesting the team has to make a change sooner rather than later.
On Monday’s episode of Get Up on ESPN, Mike Greenberg, a Jets super fan, pleaded for the team to make a trade to upgrade the quarterback position. He believes New York should go after Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins would be a massive upgrade over Wilson and is an ideal target to take over as the team’s starter. His contract situation wouldn’t interfere with a return by Rodgers next season, as Cousins is playing out the final year of his contract.
If the Jets want to have any hope of keeping their hopes alive to make a run this season, something has to change under center. As Greenberg noted, Wilson has proven time and time again he is not an NFL-caliber quarterback. The longer the Jets stick with him as their starter, the lower their playoff chances will become.
