Zach Wilson ruled out for finale, perhaps ending time with Jets - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Quarterback Zach Wilson's third season with the New York Jets is over, and the team is talking like there won't be a fourth.

The former No. 2 overall pick remains in concussion protocol, the Jets said Wednesday, and will miss his third straight game on Sunday — the season finale against the New England Patriots. Trevor Siemian will start again.

Wilson is under contract for 2024, but it appears as if the Jets are ready to find a new backup for Aaron Rodgers next season. Coach Robert Saleh said he expects Wilson, 24, to have a long career in the NFL, but he was non-committal when asked about the quarterback's future with the Jets.

«We'll see,» Saleh said. «It's all things that we're going to have talk about once the season's over, but whether it's here or somewhere else, I believe he's going to have a hell of a career.»

The Jets thought Wilson would solve their decades-long problem at quarterback, but the former BYU standout struggled in two seasons as the starter and was replaced last offseason by Rodgers. The plan was to have him learn at Rodgers' side, setting up a succession plan, but everything changed on the fourth play of the first game. Wilson was pressed into action when Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, and he wound up getting benched in Week 12.

«We were hoping… to give him that one year to watch Aaron play football, and learn and grow with all the different things that come with the scheme,» Saleh said. «It's unfortunate, four plays in, what happened, but I think he's made tremendous improvements from a year ago. I do. It's just a fortunate series of events that occurred.»

The Jets (6-10) could look to trade Wilson in the offseason, hoping to recoup a late-round draft pick.