The New York Jets lost 30-10 to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but they did not blame their quarterback Zach Wilson for the defeat. Wilson, who was making his first start since Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury, threw three interceptions and was sacked three times. However, his teammates and coach defended him and said he did some good things as well.
Wilson shows flashes of potential
Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, had a tough assignment against a Cowboys defense that dominated the Giants in Week 1. He completed 12 of 27 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, but also made some costly mistakes. His first two passes of the game were picked off by Trevon Diggs and Jourdan Lewis, setting up two Cowboys touchdowns. His third interception came in the fourth quarter, when he tried to force a throw to Corey Davis and was intercepted by Anthony Brown.
Despite the turnovers, Wilson also showed some flashes of potential. He connected with Garrett Wilson for a 68-yard touchdown in the second quarter, the longest pass play of his career. He also scrambled for 36 yards on five carries, including three consecutive runs that set up a field goal before halftime. He displayed his arm strength, mobility and toughness throughout the game.
Jets rally around Wilson
The Jets did not point fingers at Wilson after the game. Instead, they offered him words of encouragement and support. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson put his arm around him in the locker room and told him to keep his head up. Tight end Tyler Conklin and other teammates also praised him for his effort and improvement.
“We have complete trust and faith in him,” Conklin said. “We’re going to keep making sure he knows we got his back.”
Coach Robert Saleh also defended Wilson’s performance and said he did not deserve all the blame for the interceptions. He said there was a miscommunication on one of them with the running back, and that the other two were forced throws in desperation mode.
“I thought he did a nice job,” Saleh said. “Obviously, late in the game, he had to force the ball to make something happen and, obviously, it didn’t go our way.”
Jets face tough schedule ahead
The Jets fell to 1-1 with the loss to the Cowboys, but they face a tough schedule ahead. They will host the New England Patriots next week, who are also 1-1 after beating the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Patriots have a history of tormenting rookie quarterbacks, especially under coach Bill Belichick.
The Jets will also have to deal with injuries to key players. Left tackle Mekhi Becton suffered a knee injury in the first quarter and did not return. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury. Running back Tevin Coleman also left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return.
The Jets will need Wilson to bounce back from his rough day and lead them through the challenges ahead. They believe he has the talent and the character to do so.
“He’s a completely different player, in my opinion,” Conklin said. “He’s going to be fine.”