It’s official: Zach is back.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was cleared by his doctors to return to the field following his preseason knee injury. Wilson practiced fully on Wednesday for the first time in seven weeks and will start Sunday in Pittsburgh, barring any setbacks in practice this week.
“It’s the happiest I’ve been in a month,” Wilson said.
Jets fans can relate.
The Jets went with Joe Flacco at quarterback in the first three games of the season and are 1-2 after the veteran struggled against the Bengals in his final start. Flacco turned the ball over four times and failed to escape the Bengals’ pass rush. Wilson’s mobility should give the offense a boost.
Head coach Robert Saleh was quick to caution that Wilson’s return won’t immediately fix all that ails his team.
“It’s exciting to get him back out there, but at the same time, it’s not all about Zach,” Saleh said. “It’s making sure we’re executing on all cylinders.”
Wilson suffered the injury during the Jets’ first preseason game against the Eagles, tearing the meniscus and sustaining a bone bruise in his right knee. He had surgery on Aug. 16 to repair the meniscus and had to rest the knee to heal the bone bruise. Wilson returned to practice on a limited basis two weeks ago, but took team reps for the first time on Wednesday.
Wilson said he won’t wear a brace on the knee because he feels that would restrict him. He said he won’t have to favor the knee at all on Sunday against the Steelers and plans to run around when the situation dictates.
“I’m full go,” Wilson said. “I’m going to playing ball how I can. If somebody comes up, make somebody miss, get out on the edge, extend plays when I need to, hang in the pocket. I’m planning on being exactly how I should be.”
The Jets need a boost from Wilson, whom they drafted No. 2 overall in 2021. The offense stalled behind Flacco against the Bengals, a week after he led them to the dramatic comeback victory in Cleveland.
Wilson will now get a chance to work with rookie receiver Garrett Wilson, setting up the Wilson-to-Wilson combination that excited the Jets at draft time.
“This is the most reps I’ve gotten with him,” Garrett Wilson said. “He’s going to stretch the play. You’ve got to stay alive throughout the whole play. The scramble drill is going to be huge for us with Zach back there. You’re never dead. The ball can go up. He’s got a cannon. He can put it anywhere on the field.”
The Jets’ offensive line, which gave up four sacks against the Bengals, is an issue, and that could affect Zach Wilson on Sunday. The Jets are down to their fourth and fifth tackles, with Conor McDermott expected to start at left tackle and Max Mitchell at right. It will be McDermott’s seventh career start and Mitchell’s fourth.
“I’m not concerned at all,” Wilson said. “We’ve got some great players up front. Those guys are going to do their best. It’s just one more opportunity for somebody to keep stepping up, whatever positions guys are at, I’m excited for this next week. I’m hoping that I can help those guys by getting the ball out of my hands and doing whatever is necessary.”
Wilson said he is not worried about reminding himself not to try to do too much Sunday.
“No, that’s thinking too much. In my mind right now, I’m going to give this everything I have,” Wilson said. “I’m going to have fun with it and let the result kind of take care of itself. If I go out there and play my game and do what I’m supposed to and I have that short-term memory after plays and move on, I think things are going to go well.”
