- Zach Wilson has struggled during his NFL career thus far
- But he is now the Jets’ starter after Aaron Rodgers’ injury
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Zach Wilson has “a lot of confidence” in himself to lead the Jets in the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury, he told reporters Thursday.
Just four games into Rodgers’ Jets career, Wilson was thrust back into the starting role after the former Packers star tore his Achilles tendon against the Bills on Monday night.
And despite struggling in 22 NFL starts to date, the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft is feeling good in his third season as the Jets’ starter.
“I really believe in myself and I think this is the first step to getting into the NFL,” he said, via SNY. ‘You have to believe in yourself first, then the rest will take care of itself.’
When asked if he needs to regain the trust of his teammates after being benched last season, Wilson pushed back.
Zach Wilson told reporters Thursday that he has “a lot of confidence” in his abilities
Aaron Rodgers saw his season cut short after suffering an Achilles tendon injury on Monday
“I don’t think I have to think about it that way. I think the way I can go out there and play football will get that confidence back from those guys.
‘I would say I have a very good relationship with everyone in this dressing room. We joke around, we have lunch together, we go out for O-line QB dinners, and so I always felt like the guys in this locker room had my back, just like I have theirs.”
Regardless of Wilson’s optimism, Rodgers is understandably devastated at missing the entire season with his new team.
Wilson revealed that there had been a “little bit of texting between the pair after his injury against the Bills.”
Rodgers suffered the injury when he was sacked by Leonard Floyd minutes into the game
Wilson had 140 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception versus the Bills
“I’ve tried to give him his space, he’s obviously going through it,” Wilson said. “But really I’m just showing him that I love him and that we miss him being around.”
As Rodgers tries to return from his injury, Wilson hopes to establish himself as the Jets starter — a process he won’t rush. He finished the Jets’ win over the Bills with 140 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.
‘Step by step, piece by piece. And I think it’s trust in the guys around me. “I think this past week they showed how explosive and how dynamic guys are,” he said.
“By relying on the good defense that we have, I think that’s where it’s going to go, like I said, playing it play by play, trusting my footwork, trusting what the coach has talked about and we’re going from over there.’