Despite making a change at quarterback during Sunday afternoon’s loss, head coach Robert Saleh said post-game that he has not decided which of his QBs will be the Week 12 starter against the Miami Dolphins.
The New York Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills, 32-6, on Sunday, during which Saleh made the decision to take out starting quarterback Zach Wilson late in the third quarter and put in backup Tim Boyle. Saleh told reporters that he did not have an answer yet as to who would start for the Jets on Black Friday. It was the first time since Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 that Saleh indicated anyone other than Wilson could be the starter.
Saleh has been staunch in his support of Wilson despite offensive struggles and overwhelming criticism.
However, the Jets finally made a change late in the third quarter when they were trailing 29-6. Boyle was brought into the game and Wilson was benched, ending his night with a 7-of-15 passing score (46.7%) for 81 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, resulting in a 57.9 passer rating. This was his lowest single-game completion percentage in 2023 and the second time this year he recorded a passer rating below 60.0.
Wilson’s performance on Sunday had some positives and negatives. On the positive side, he led a touchdown drive, breaking a 41-drive streak without a touchdown for the Jets. On the negative side, he threw a second-quarter interception that resulted in a touchdown for Buffalo. Wilson was benched with just over a quarter remaining, with his team trailing by several scores.
Saleh, when questioned about his decision to bring in Boyle at the current stage, explained that he was simply trying to stimulate some offensive action, given the current score. He noted that the offense had only managed to accumulate a total of 155 yards that afternoon.
As I previously mentioned, the score was 29-6, and as I explained to Zach on the sidelines, the responsibility doesn’t solely fall on him,” stated Saleh. “Blaming the quarterback is the simple route, but it’s clear that there were missed protections, dropped balls, and incorrect routes. While he undoubtedly needs to improve, there are areas where he could have performed better, but now it’s a collective responsibility.”
Boyle was 7-of-14 passing for 33 yards in relief, leading three drives that ended in a fumble, punt, and interception. He has started three games in his five-year career, and has a 0-3 record in those contests. Saleh also would not rule out going with practice squad QB Trevor Siemian, who has a 13-17 record as a starter, but has started only five games since 2021 and lost them all.
However, the Jets won’t delay in deciding their course of action. Given the short rest period before their game against the Dolphins on Friday, Saleh stated they would determine their plan on Monday after reviewing Sunday’s loss’s footage.
Whether it ends up being Boyle who follows up his short stint, Wilson retaking the reins or Siemian as the dark horse, the Jets’ starting quarterback will have just a few days to prepare before New York faces the high-flying Miami Dolphins (7-3).
