Zach Wilson Preseason Debut: What To Expect From Jets Rookie In NFL Preseason Game

Zach Wilson became the QB of the future after the Jets drafted the BYU alum with the 2nd overall pick. And according to HC Robert Saleh, Wilson and the starters will definitely see some action against the Giants on Saturday.

Wilson’s offseason till now has been up and down, to say the least. 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. 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.

Zach Wilson Preseason Debut: What to expect from Zach Wilson in his NFL preseason debut?

Wilson is probably one of 2 rookie QB’s, along with Trevor Lawrence, who is expected to start come Week 1. Since the Jets don’t really have a seasoned veteran at quarterback, it’s important that head coach Robert Saleh gives Wilson time to develop in the preseason.

But Jets fans should not expect to see too much of Wilson. Saleh told reporters that Wilson and the Jets starters will play about one full quarter on Saturday night against the Giants.

“We’re thinking about a quarter, couple of series for all those guys. Just kind of get him his first action,” Rob Saleh said on a press conference before the preseason opener.

For a young team with plenty of new faces, extending into the coaching staff as well, Saturday’s preseason opener will be a milestone and a tremendous opportunity to build on weeks of hard work at training camp and plenty of offseason workouts.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to showcase who they are,” Saleh said. “31 other teams are going to get their tape for the first time and the style they want to represent and all the different things that they want to showcase, I think that’s what’s most important about these preseason games. You can take them for granted from a team standpoint because it doesn’t matter in the win-loss record but your style of play and what you want to represent and what you want the entire league to know about you starts Saturday. That’s why I think there’s tremendous value to these preseason games.”

“We are a very, very young football team and they’ve got to be able to go through the process of pregame and prepping themselves mentally and getting in their own space and getting ready to play a football game and then going out there and playing a couple of drives,” Saleh explained. “If you think about it, if you count last year’s group, 30 guys on our roster, somewhere around there, that have never had preseason action.”

Wilson only managed to score 3 points in his Metlife Stadium debut in practice. But with some of the nerves shaken off, we should see a more free-flowing performance from the rookie QB in the Jets preseason game against the Giants.

Also Read: “Frustrated with myself”: Zach Wilson opens up after struggling in first simulated NFL game at MetLife Stadium