Zach Wilson: Jets HC Robert Saleh calls criticism of quarterback ‘lazy’ after Chargers loss…despite bizarre freeze-up in radio interview when asked why Trevor Siemian didn’t replace him

The New York Jets have a problem. They are 4-4 this season and have a good chance of making the playoffs. But it certainly doesn’t feel that way.

Part of that is the close nature of all their games. All but three games (Week 2 loss to the Cowboys, Week 5 win against Denver and Monday night’s loss to the Chargers) have been decided by one score.

Despite the close nature of these games — and this season as a whole — if you ask any Jets fan why they might feel anxious, they will most likely point to one person: Zach Wilson.

Wilson, the former second overall pick, wasn’t supposed to get as much playing time as he did this season. But an injury to Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 has thrust him into the spotlight and the starting quarterback role — something Jets fans aren’t too happy about.

But head coach Robert Saleh believes it would be wrong to put all the problems on the shoulders of his third-year quarterback and take the easy way out.

Wilson led the Jets on Monday Night Football this week, but lost 27-6 to the LA Chargers

“There are good things and bad things he can build on,” Saleh said Tuesday when asked about Wilson.

‘Some things he still needs to say, whether it’s understanding when enough is enough. Understanding what defenses are in front of you and just being a little bit faster and saying no to things, if you want.

“I thought generally he distributed the ball and like I said, we moved him around at times. Always being present in the pocket for any quarterback in football can always be a little better, but like I said, he could be a lot better.

‘It’s lazy to blame everything on him. I think, like I said, it was collective across the board.”

But Jets fans are a mean bunch, and Saleh’s belief that his quarterback isn’t to blame won’t calm their nerves.

The Jets have the second-worst offense in the NFL – only slightly better than their fellow MetLife Stadium tenants, the New York Giants.

They have the third-worst passing game in the league (ahead of Arizona and the Giants) and also the third-worst scoring offense in the NFL (ahead of New England and, again, the Giants).

So Jets fans were wondering: If Plan A is injured and Plan B is incapacitated, why not try Plan C?

Wilson clearly struggled with the fact that the Jets had one of the worst offenses in the NFL

With Aaron Rodgers injured, the Jets are left with only third-stringer Trevor Siemian

The Jets’ Plan C is a guy named Trevor Siemian. As a career backup taken in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, he was on the roster of seven different teams.

He’s even had a brief stint with the Jets in the past, playing in one game and completing three passes for three yards.

Siemian is best known for playing 14 games in the 2016 season with the Denver Broncos, where he threw for 3,401 yards and 18 touchdowns after beating out Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch for the starting job.

In his only season as a full-time starter, Siemian led the Broncos to a 9–7 record, but Denver just missed the playoffs.

But that is much better than what Wilson has been able to accomplish with the Jets in recent seasons.

It’s been seven seasons since Siemian started consistently, but Saleh seems hesitant

So the question has to be asked: Why not give Siemian a chance if he has more success as a starter and has been in the league longer?

Robert Saleh has an answer, which he told YES Network’s Michael Kay on his radio program this afternoon.

“It’s um… and again a fair question… and you know it’s um… I don’t know, you got me, I’m going to plead the fifth on this one.”

So it appears that Saleh hasn’t even considered the possibility of turning to Siemian – or that there’s a specific problem with his third-string quarterback that he can’t share with the public.

Regardless, Saleh appears to be sticking with the idea of ​​Wilson being his starting quarterback until Rodgers is able to return to that role.