Zach Wilson - Jets offense to try to prove Joe Namath wrong - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was sacked four times in a 24-hour span — three times by the New England Patriots on Sunday and once the next day by Joe Namath, the most iconic player in franchise history.

Commenting for the first time on Namath's scathing criticism, the embattled Wilson insisted he wasn't upset by the comments.

«I mean, he's passionate,» Wilson said Thursday, smiling. «He's obviously one of the greats, so as an offense we've got to do everything we can to try to prove him wrong.»

Namath, 80, fed up with Wilson's struggles, blasted the first-rounder on «The Michael Kay Show» on ESPN New York radio. He said that Wilson's performance was «disgusting» and that he's «seen enough of Zach Wilson,» predicting the third-year quarterback never will develop into a good player.

Wilson, thrust into the lineup when Aaron Rodgers went down with a season-ending Achilles injury on the fourth play in Week 1, has struggled mightily. His QBR is a career-low 26.7, which ranks 33rd out of 34 qualified passers. The only quarterback below him is the Chicago Bears' Justin Fields (21.0).

The Jets organization was hit hard by Namath's remarks, but most coaches and players were careful not to fire back. Namath, who led the Jets to their only Super Bowl in 1969, still is revered by the franchise. No one wanted to start a war of words with the Hall of Fame quarterback.

Wilson, who showed up for his news conference wearing a T-shirt that read, «I Got Your Back» (recently distributed to every player), downplayed the criticism.

«Obviously, Joe was an unbelievable player, but this locker room is very tight-knit and we're working to get better,» said Wilson, who has met Namath only once — a training camp visit