Jets Quarterback Zach Wilson has been medically cleared to play again and the head Coach Robert Saleh told reporters Wednesday that Wilson is expected to play his first game in the new season, when the Jets take on Steelers Steelers on the field in Pittsburgh.
“If all goes well this week, absolutely,” Saleh stated about Wilson beginning.
Wilson was injured in his knee in an uncontact dive during his team’s opener for the preseason against Philadelphia on August. 13 and was later treated for an arthroscopic procedure conducted by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. On September. 7 Saleh said to reporters that the week 4 game against. the Steelers was the first time Wilson was likely to be fit for playing.
The Jets have slowly increased Wilson’s practice field, and last week Wilson, a second-year signal caller, took part in 7-on-7 sessions and in individual periods. Wilson is expected to be a full participant on Wednesday.
“The practice aspect of it was very important, the little 7-on-7s that we were able to steal throughout the last couple of weeks, kept him engaged,” Saleh stated. “He was fully involved in all the walk-throughs and the meeting, still able to get the extra work in with regards to throwing and putting strain on the knee. He’s very comfortable, he’s in a great mental state and everyone is very comfortable with where he’s at physically. He’s ready to roll.”
The backup Joe Flacco started the Green White’s three first games, completing 59 percent of his passes for 901 yards, with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He was able to grab offense controls with The Jets after Wilson was able to avoid a passing rusher in the Eagles during a scramble. the right knee gave way when he moved towards his left.
“I was feeling really good,” Wilson stated of his training for the season prior to his injury. “I believed that I had plenty of great practices under my belt which I didn’t think about in that way, but rather just thinking of the expectations that were placed on the quarterback. And simply being steady and playing with care and understanding my reads and then I was excited to try and apply certain concepts I’ve learned in the past year. I was extremely happy about it.
Saleh said: “He’s in a good mental state. Like we all saw, he had a really nice training camp. He was getting better every day, so now it’s just a matter of him getting out there and getting some game-time experience and finding ways to get better every single day. He’s excited, we’re all excited for him, but at the same time, it’s not about him. It’s about making sure we do our part that we run an efficient offense.”
Wilson has missed four games in his first season after suffering the PCL strain within his right knee in October. However, this year’s meniscus injury and the bone bruises in the same knee aren’t associated.
Wilson was in the starting lineup for 13 games in the first year of his contract and showed significant improvements over the course of the year He scored 9 TDs versus 2 interceptions in his final seven post-injury games. Wilson could be a part of an offense in Pittsburgh that is radically different from the team that he played with during the 2021 regular season that ended in Buffalo in January. If he’s able to play during Week 4 he’ll begin his second campaign underway against an Steelers team with only 10 days in which to get ready for Green & White after their 29-17 defeat at Cleveland on Thursday.
“It’s really just exciting for him to get back on the football field,” Saleh explained. “It’s been six weeks and there’s a lot of different things that have to go around in terms of making sure we run an efficient offense from us as coaches, O-line, receivers running routes, everybody is involved. It is exciting to get him back out there, but at the same time, it’s not all about Zach. It’s making sure we’re executing on all cylinders as we should every week.”
