The New York Jets’ much-hyped season met disaster due to a quarterback injury to start the year, and their playoff prospects met an end on Sunday in a game that included another.
Zach Wilson suffered a concussion just before halftime of Sunday’s 30-0 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and was later ruled out.
While the defeat put New York’s razor-thin playoff chances in peril, the Jets were officially eliminated from contention after the Houston Texans pulled off an overtime win over the Tennessee Titans shortly after — a reality that renders Aaron Rodgers‘ quest for an all-time comeback from a torn Achilles in Week 1 unneeded.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that the result of the Miami game would impact the decision to activate Rodgers off injured reserve by the upcoming Wednesday deadline to do so.
Given how today shook out, the four-time Most Valuable Player likely will not make a move back to the 53-man roster.
As far as Wilson goes, he initially exited with dehydration, per the CBS broadcast, and headed to the locker room early, but New York designated him out for the day due to a concussion at the start of the third quarter.
“I’m not sure the process. I know, from my understanding, it was called up top,” head coach Robert Saleh told reporters after the game when asked to explain for clarification on the change from dehydration to a concussion. “He is now in the protocol.”
It was a brutal loss for the Jets, as Wilson had just 26 yards passing and a 44.9 passer rating on 4-of-11 passing at the time of his departure, and Trevor Siemian fared little better in relief with 110 yards and two picks while completing 14 of 26 attempts.
The rushing game was even more abysmal, contributing 23 ground yards.
It all added up to the Jets being shutout for the first time this season, a new low in a campaign that has already included five other games of 10 points or fewer.
The lifeless showing, combined with the Rodgers situation, is a bitter pill. It puts an end to meaningful regular-season results for the Jets three weeks early as far as winning a championship goes, and all but guarantees Jets fans will be limited to seeing just four snaps from Rodgers this year.
Despite all that, Saleh is intent to rebound and close out with effort.
“It’s disappointing, starting from the first series of the year all the way until now,” he said on Sunday. “It’s just been a constant battle. I do appreciate the heck out of our guys. We’ve still got three games left to finish strong.”
