If you’re still not sold on Zach Wilson, know this: On Sunday, when CBS analyst and former NFL quarterback Tony Romo was calling the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs, a sidearm throw by Patrick Mahomes sparked a remarkable prediction for the Jets’ rookie quarterback.
“That’s an incredible arm angle, stuff that isn’t normal for humans. Only Jim Nantz and Patrick Mahomes have the ability to do that,” Romo joked.
Nantz steered the discussion to the Jets: “And you were telling me earlier, maybe Zach Wilson, too.”
“Oh, he’s going to be really good, but his team is not something you’re going to write home about,” Romo said. “That’s a work in progress, but he’s going to be amazing in two years, three years.
“This year, they’re going to struggle and he’s going to look average, but I can see the stuff that New York has and the ceiling is very high.”
Wilson, while running from the Carolina Panthers pass rush in a 19-14 loss on Sunday, completed 20 of 37 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for a 82.9 rating. The kid who looks like Opie Taylor but might be as tough as Lawrence Taylor, shrugged off the battering after the offensive line gave up more hits than the Yankees’ bullpen.
“That’s part of the job, right?” Wilson said after the game. “Part of the quarterback pressure is knowing there’s going to be pressure. It’s good for me.”
Despite the pressure, Wilson had some bright spots, including the late TD toss and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Davis late in the third quarter when he rolled out of the pocket to buy time. He also threw an 8-yard TD pass to Davis with 1:56 left that gave the Jets a chance.
When Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who weighs 320 pounds, crushed Wilson for the sixth (and final) sack on Sunday, Panthers head coach Matt Rhule “didn’t think he’d get up.”
But Wilson did.
“The kid has been hit before,” said Robert Saleh, who lost his head-coaching debut. “He took some shots today, obviously. But he got back up. He showed resolve. And he’s fearless. He really is. He’s only going to get better.”
Rhule isn’t the only one who thinks so.
The AP contributed to this report.
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