All that stands between Zach Wilson making his first start of the season when the New York Jets play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday are two more practices.
Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft, was medically cleared Wednesday to return from a knee injury that kept him out the final two weeks of the preseason and the first three games of the regular season.
“If he clears all of the hurdles of the week, yeah, he’ll play,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday afternoon on a conference call with Steelers media.
Wilson will replace veteran Joe Flacco, who guided the Jets to a 1-2 record.
Wilson went 3-10 in 13 starts as a rookie with nine touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, and he will be trying to shake off the rust in a road venue. Still, Saleh has high hopes for the former BYU quarterback in his second NFL season.
“It’s going to be a challenge for him, but we loved the way he was ascending,” Saleh said. “We loved the way he was progressing through training camp. We thought he was stacking up a lot of really good days.”
Wilson was hurt two series into the preseason opener at Philadelphia when he tried to juke past linebacker Nakobe Dean. He bruised a bone in his knee and tore the meniscus, requiring surgery.
“The Philadelphia preseason game wasn’t the best thing that could have happened to him, but he’s coming in with a lot of confidence,” Saleh said. “Will it be a quick turnaround for him? Sure, but he’s also been able to get a lot of practice reps over the past couple of weeks as it pertains to 7-on-7 work.
“We’re excited. He’s excited.”
