Zach Wilson: Jets QB to start against Jaguars Thursday night in key battle for playoff spots | NFL news

Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson will start again for the New York Jets on Thursday night

Zach Wilson will once again be the starting quarterback for the New York Jets when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night – live on Sky Sports – which has major playoff implications.

Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, endured a difficult second season in New York and was benched for Mike White before suffering a rib injury in a Week 14 loss to the Buffalo Bills that led to Wilson’s return. lineup in Sunday’s 20-17 home loss to the Detroit Lions.

Wilson completed 18 of 35 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, but also threw a costly third-quarter interception and missed several seemingly easy plays.

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Highlights from the Detroit Lions’ matchup with the New York Jets in NFL Week 15

Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who replaced Wilson on the bench in the middle of the season, confirmed earlier this week that White is not injured, but he also blamed the “instant coffee world” for the demands placed on Wilson so early. NFL career.

“The frustrating thing is this kid is going to be a good quarterback,” Saleh told reporters. “But the NFL and this new instant coffee world we’re in, they just don’t want to give people time.

“So, we look at him and he’s just picked with a fine-toothed comb.”

Wilson’s benching came after a Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots in which the second-year QB was a season-worst after completing 9 of 22 passes for just 77 yards.

He also came under fire for his one-word “no” response to reporters when asked after the game if he had let down the Jets’ defense, though he has since apologized to his teammates for his actions.

Saleh said as Wilson sat that it was “not a nail in the coffin” for his future with the team and that “Zach’s career here is not over.”

He doubled down on that this week, with the head coach adding, “Nobody’s going to give up on somebody just because it feels like it’s not going to show in year one or year two.

“Zach is growing up. He’s growing up with this team, he’s growing up with all of us.”

Baldinger: Wilson is way too hot

Saleh also praised Wilson’s performance in the team’s latest loss to the Lions on Sunday, saying the 23-year-old took a “big step” despite the uneven nature of his display.

Wilson’s second TD toss of the game to tight end CJ Uzomah gave the Jets a 17-13 lead with less than five minutes to play, but they ended up with Brock Wright’s 51-yard reception on a fourth-and-one play inside the final two minutes.

“I’m really excited for him because in his past, when he hit a speed bump in a game, he was derailed,” Saleh said. “But I thought he did a really good job of getting back on track and swinging back up in the fourth quarter to lead the touchdown drive.”

However, former offensive lineman and NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger wasn’t convinced by what he saw of Wilson. Sky Sports: “I feel like he’s way too hot right now.

“He made a few plays the other day — we’ll give him credit — and he’s got a big arm, but the reason they went with Mike White is because he can make the plays you have to make in the pocket. He gets the ball in his hands and throws the ball accurately He just can’t stay healthy right now or he’d be there.

“Wilson has a chance, a huge game against Jacksonville on Thursday night. It’s a big chance to try to turn his season around. They probably have to win out to make the playoffs.”

The third straight loss dropped the Jets to 7-7 on the season and leaves them on the outside looking in for the AFC playoffs with three games to play. The Miami Dolphins (8-6) are currently in the hunt for seventh place in the conference and the final wild card spot.

Koyack: We’ve seen a ‘generation’ of Jags QB Lawrence ‘grow up’

But the Jaguars (6-8) are also in contention for a postseason berth — and still a chance to win the AFC South division title, making Thursday night’s game even more important for both teams.

The Jaguars have clawed their way into contention by winning two straight and three of their last four, the most recent of which was a dramatic 40-34 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

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The Dallas Cowboys highlights take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15 of the NFL

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson isn’t getting excited yet, however, telling reporters this week: “I don’t think about past Thursdays, quite honestly. We’ve got a good football team that we’re going up against.

“Anything is possible. I understand that. We still have a long way to go. But if we continue to improve from what we’ve done here in the last month of the season, I think it’s possible.”

Trevor Lawrence, selected with the first pick in the same draft as Wilson – one pick ahead of the Jets’ QB – has been a key factor in the team’s recent success, throwing for a career-high four touchdowns and 318 yards. (and one interception) against Dallas. Thirteen of his 24 TD passes this season have come in Jacksonville’s last five games.

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NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger breaks down Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s growth for a second NFL season.

Former Jaguars tight end Ben Koyack is impressed with what he sees. “Lawrence was always heralded after this generation of talent out of college, even out of high school,” he shared. Sky Sports.

“Last year people started questioning it. But this year we’ve seen him grow. These last few games we’ve seen the players and his support staff step up and really support him.

“It makes it a lot easier as a quarterback to go out there and do your job — and do it with confidence.”

Lawrence will now get a chance to land another 2021 Draft alum, Wilson, on Thursday night in another matchup between the top two picks.

It was Wilson who made things better in their first meeting on Boxing Day last season as the Jets held on for a 26-21 win.

Watch Jacksonville Jaguars @ New York Jets on Thursday Night Football live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am on Friday morning.