Jets Hall of Famer latest to express frustration with Wilson

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jets Hall of Famer latest to express frustration with Zach Wilson

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/24/23

The New York Jets knew they would have to temper their expectations after losing Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 to a season-ending Achilles injury and replacing him with Zach Wilson.

But three games into the year, and the Jets may even be surprised with how poorly Wilson has played. The list of critics for the third-year QB is growing by the week, and now you can add Jets Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath to those not happy with Wilson’s performance.

In a series of tweets during Sunday’s 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots, Namath vented his frustration with Wilson — and the Jets offense as a whole — as the team struggled to the tune of 171 yards of total offense in defeat.

Why would Zach just go down when he could’ve spun outta there and maybe found a receiver, bought some time. Geez.
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023

WRONG DIRECTION ZACH! Step UP into that pocket!
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023

Wilson completed 18-of-36 passes for 157 yards, and he led the Jets to just 11 total yards on their first 12 offensive plays. He averaged just 4.4 yards per completion, and just three of his passes went for 15 yards or more.

It’s the second straight game that Wilson had a completion percentage of 50 or worse, and he has yet to throw for more than 170 yards this season.

If the ground is slippery it’s like that for both teams!… It’s disgusting to see us throw short of the first down marker on 3rd if the receiver isn’t running vertically.
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023

Our pass patterns, receiver routes seem to be predictable.
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023

I’m starting to wonder if Zach’s playing like he’s being coached. He’s making choices that are not intuitive to the quarterback position.
— Joe Namath (@RealJoeNamath) September 24, 2023

Wilson, a former No. 2 overall pick, got no help from his run game either, as Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall combined for 36 yards on 20 carries. New York has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and totaled only 102 rushing yards over the last two weeks.

Though Jets head coach Robert Saleh said the team is moving forward with Wilson as its QB, one has to wonder how much more slack the 24-year-old has.

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