28 September 2023 , 22:17
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Zach Wilson has issued a response to the scathing criticism from New York Jets legend Joe Namath.
The quarterback was slammed by his predecessor following his disappointing performances for the franchise so far. Namath, 80, appeared on “The Michael Kay Show” and branded the 24-year-old’s performance against the New England Patriots on Sunday as “disgusting”.
“No, I didn’t take anything positive out of it. It was awful,” the 1968 Super Bowl champion said. As the Jets prepare for a tough test against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Wilson has had his chance to respond to Namath and is determined to change his opinion of him.
“He’s passionate, he’s obviously one of the greats,” the second pick of the 2021 NFL Draft said, via SNY. “As an offense, we have to do everything we can to prove him wrong. “We’re working to get better. I’m working to get better. I know I need to improve, I promise I’m doing everything I can to keep trying to get better.”
Namath is not the only sports figure who has been brutally honest about WIlson’s performances. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith described the player as “straight garbage”. The Jets player has not been performing to the standards many were expecting since his Jets career began.
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Wilson completed just 50 percent of his passes for 157 yards with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions on Sunday. Over the course of the first three games of the season, Wilson has the lowest passer rating by a quarterback this season at 57.0. He is currently on pace to have the worst three-year stretch by a quarterback in NFL history.
Even Aaron Rodgers, who Wilson replaced in the starting lineup after he got injured, said the Jets would be in a different place had he not suffered an injury. "I feel like if I was there, some of those things wouldn't be happening," the 20211 Super Bowl winner said. "[I'm] not sure we'd be 3-0 - I don't know that.
"I'd like to think there's a possibility of that, but it's more the side stuff that I don't like and that I want to see us stick together through the tough times."
The Jets need to improve their production on the offensive end if they are to turn their fortunes around. They managed a total of just 171 yards against the Patriots and 87 of those came on their only touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
The New York Jets legend had some strong words for current quarterback Zach Wilson (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)Through the first three games of the season, the Jets offense is only averaging 14.0 points and has a total of just 675 yards. During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show this week the injured Rodgers had some strong words for his Jets teammates, something head coach Robert Saleh said the team welcomes.
"He's as much of a coach as he is a player, and he's been around youth and he's been around adversity, and he's seen it all," Saleh said. "So for him to recognize that and talk through it, I think he's not wrong in that when you have frustration, it's easy to look for answers when sometimes the most important answer is inward.
"As it pertains to what he said, he's not wrong," he added. "But at the same time, it's just a bunch of young guys showing a little frustration, but they'll be all right."