Zach Wilson To Start For Jets Against Lions
Dec 16, 2022, 10:41 AM | Updated: 10:17 pm
Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets looks on in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium on November 27, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced that Zach Wilson will be the starting quarterback against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Jets starting quarterback Mike White was not cleared for contact this week in practice so Saleh decided to give Zach Wilson the start against the Lions.
“Mike White will be limited at practice but he will be out,” Saleh said. “He is an absolute warrior and was doing everything he could this week to try to find another opinion to get him to the football field. This is going to be a great opportunity for Zach [Wilson]. When he was elevated to the No. 2 quarterback, it was with an understanding that there was a strong possibility that he was going to play and to prepare accordingly. He’s gotten the vast majority of the first-team reps in practice. We feel very comfortable about Zach’s preparation as the first-string quarterback.”
Coach Saleh says QB Mike White was not medically cleared for contact and will not play Sunday.
QB Zach Wilson will start. pic.twitter.com/RREqyb5JM1
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 16, 2022
Saleh dived into further detail about White’s situation. The Jets coach said the quarterback was taken to the hospital on Sunday to get x-rays and was cleared to get on the plane. White received more evaluation on Monday and Tuesday and was cleared to practice but no contact. According to Saleh, White felt fine but was still not cleared and exhausted every option to try to get cleared to play. Saleh said this is a situation where they have to do what is best for the player.
Zach Wilson Elevated To Backup QB Earlier This Week
On Wednesday, Saleh announced that Wilson was elevated to backup quarterback behind White.
Robert Saleh spoke with the media on Wednesday morning and announced that Mike White will be the starting quarterback for the Jets with Wilson as the backup and Joe Flacco moving down to No. 3. Wilson was benched on November 23.
“Zach’s been doing a great job,” Saleh said. “He’s been deliberate in his approach over the last three weeks. He’s been holding himself accountable with regards to how he wants to attack practice, how he’s been performing in practice, going against our defense, which I think is a pretty good defense to go against. He’s been working on all the different things that we’ve been asking him to accomplish.”
The Jets and Lions will square off at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, December 18 at 11:00 a.m. MT on CBS.
