Zach Wilson became the QB of the future after the Jets drafted the BYU alum with the 2nd overall pick. He had his first practice game at MetLife Stadium, but had an unimpressive showing.
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Zach Wilson is set to be QB1 for the New York Jets in 2021. The former BYU QB has been impressive in OTA’s and training camp, but his first simulated NFL game was a dud. After three months of buildup, the rookie quarterback made his debut Saturday night at MetLife Stadium, before a crowd of nearly 20,000 people
An effortless Zach Wilson 50-yard bomb at MetLife. #Jets @j_brady3 pic.twitter.com/mXTmQbdAVf
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) August 7, 2021
Zach Wilson was frustrated with his performance in the practice game
Wilson has flashed a huge arm during Jets practice, but the results in the team practice left plenty to be desired. Wilson threw 11-of-24 for 112 yards and two interceptions. He was asked about his showing.
“Not great,” he said of his night. “I have high expectations for myself and this offense. I have to lead the guys and I have to make better decisions. That’s why this isn’t Game 1; that’s why we’re doing this. I understand that. Of course I’m going to be frustrated with myself, but I’m going back to the film room and find out what I can learn.”
“It’s all part of the process,” Wilson said. “We’re all learning. I’ve got to make better some decisions, but I know I can learn from all those. This is the reason we do this sort of thing.”
Zach Wilson says he was “not great” in tonight’s scrimmage:
“I have high expectations for myself and for this offense, and I’ve got to lead those guys. I’ve got to make better decisions. That’s why this isn’t game one, that’s why we’re doing this.” pic.twitter.com/INykztqOaQ
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 8, 2021
First-year coach Robert Saleh had a better assessment of Wilson’s first practice without offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur just a few feet away.
“There was no one to turn to for him to talk to,” Saleh said. “To have that experience, and to be able to go through it all, these moments are priceless for him. He had some good moments and, obviously, he had some rookie moments.”
“The biggest learning jump for him was that it was under the lights, there was a bigger crowd,” coach Robert Saleh said. “It wasn’t necessarily a bigger moment, because you want them all to be the same, but I’m sure the young man wanted to do his absolute best. There are a lot of things he can take from this one, and it will be awesome to see him grow from it.”
Wilson only managed to score 3 points. His best throw was a tight-window completion to wide receiver Jeff Smith for 16 yards.
