Former Jets QB shares Zach Wilson, locker room concerns

Former New York Jets quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason suggested New York players could quickly lose faith in signal-caller Zach Wilson if this Sunday's game between the 2-3 Jets and 5-0 Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium goes poorly for the hosts. 

"There’s too many really good players on this football team to be held back by a quarterback if this gets ugly," Esiason said about the Jets during Friday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer and Gio" program, as shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "They would turn on (Wilson) in a heartbeat."

Last November, wide receiver Garrett Wilson openly criticized the New York passing game when Zach Wilson was struggling. More recently, it was reported in September that there was "tension" in the locker room regarding head coach Robert Saleh's support of Zach Wilson after the 24-year-old produced duds in losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. 

While Zach Wilson performed better over the past two games, he fumbled the ball away in the fourth quarter of the defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 1 and tossed a late interception on what Esiason previously referred to as a "horrific throw" in last Sunday's 31-21 win at the Denver Broncos. 

"There is an improvement in Zach from where he was last year," Esiason acknowledged on Friday. "…But he is doing things on the field that are very troubling if the team wants to win. This has a chance to be a really ugly game for him. I hope it isn’t. I want him to do well, but I don’t really see it."

Per ESPN stats, the Eagles enter the weekend surrendering the fewest rushing yards per game (61.2) in the NFL, meaning Zach Wilson may have to beat Philadelphia with his arm. He started Friday ranked 29th in the league among qualified players with a 38.6 adjusted QBR and 32nd with a 73.4 passer rating on the season. 

The Jets have repeatedly been linked in rumors with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, and Cousins declined earlier this week to confirm or deny that he would waive his no-trade clause to join a contender before the Oct. 31 trade deadline comes and goes. 

Depending on all that occurs in Week 6, the Jets may feel they have no other choice but to call Minnesota on Monday to learn more about Cousins' availability.