The mother of New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson claims her son tried to stay in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins before entering the concussion protocol. She said he initially didn't tell the coaches he was having vision problems during his terrible four-sack day in Miami.
“Yesterday was a little tough, Zach took some really, really big hits and he fought through it and really just tried to stay on the field,” Lisa Wilson, a 50-year-old Instagram influencer, said in a video. on the social network. “He didn't want to go out, he didn't want to stop playing, so he didn't tell the sidelines, the coaches and the trainers how he really felt and just tried to fight through it and be there for it. his boys.'
Lisa's portrayal of her son as a tough player who fights to stay on the field for his teammates contrasts with a recent report about Zach, who was reportedly reluctant to resume starting duties for the Jets earlier this month, according to The Athletic . The team, Wilson, and injured Jets starter Aaron Rodgers publicly denied that claim, and the third-year quarterback returned to the field on December 10 to throw for 301 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Houston Texans.
But any momentum Wilson seemed to have after that win evaporated on Sunday, when he was 4 of 11 for 26 yards before entering the concussion protocol.
“Finally, after another blow to the head, he really started having problems with blurred vision and his depth perception,” Lisa Wilson said. “He really started to worry that he was going to hurt his team if he stayed there because his vision was wrong and you can't play like that.”
Wilson's status for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders remains bleak. He could be replaced by Trevor Siemian or even Rodgers, although that seems less likely now that the Jets are out of the playoffs.
Rodgers had publicly reflected on a possible return from his ruptured Achilles tendon later this month.
Wilson's mother Lisa has been in the news frequently during his three years in northern New Jersey, including a report in 2022 when Zach was accused of having an affair with an unidentified friend of hers.
Details surrounding the allegations remain vague.
The rumors started after Wilson's ex, Abbey Gile, reportedly started dating Wilson's former teammate and college roommate, Washington Commanders receiver Dax Milne.
Gile was accused on social media of being a “homie hopper” and instead pointed the finger at Wilson: “He slept with his mom's best friend… that's the real homie hopper.”
Wilson has since dodged questions about the alleged affair, and the mother's boyfriend has never been publicly identified.
The Jets (5-9) will miss the postseason for the 13th straight season, the longest drought among the four major professional sports leagues in North America. They also have eight straight losing seasons.
Head coach Robert Saleh is 16-32 as the team's coach since he was hired in 2021. GM Joe Douglas, meanwhile, is 25-55 since taking over from the fired Mike Maccagnan in 2019.
The latest loss, a 30-0 thrashing in Miami on Sunday, further fanned the flames – with some wondering if Saleh is in danger of losing the locker room.
“I think this team is still bought in,” the coach insisted. “I think this team is still playing for each other. I think this team still loves each other. And I speak for everyone because we are frustrated that we have not been able to string together some wins. But I appreciate the way we go out there and fight. We just have to find a way to be successful.”
Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas said Saleh has the players' support. But he agreed that the players are frustrated, especially given the expectations the team had just a few months ago.
“It obviously hurts,” Thomas said. 'That is your goal and dream every season and the fact that you cannot achieve that, you can never be satisfied with that. You're never going to like that. And if that doesn't bother you, you shouldn't be in the building.'
Oh, and as for Rodgers, he's still rehabbing the torn left Achilles tendon that caused the Jets' season to spiral just four times in his debut with the team. He's getting closer to his return, and there was a lot of buzz that it could even happen against Washington on Sunday — as long as New York stayed in the playoff hunt.
The loss to Miami put an end to that claim and also likely ended speculation about whether Rodgers would play the final three games. The Jets have until Wednesday to activate him from injured reserve, but that's hardly a given.
“I don't have anything to say to you about that right now,” Saleh said. “As far as I'm concerned, he's still in rehab.”
And once again the Jets play the trick.
Three more games to try to provide some optimism heading into the offseason. And Saleh and Douglas' jobs may be on the line.
“Just coaching to beat Washington,” Saleh said.