Zach Wilson has been riding the pine since Week 11 following a disappointing 10-3 loss to the Patriots. Following the team's loss, he made headlines by saying he didn't feel like he let the defense down, which led to the benching of the 2021 second overall pick.
After sitting on the bench for three games, Wilson is set to return to the starting role. Jets coach Robert Saleh said on Friday that Wilson will start against the Lions on Sunday as the Jets look to snap a two-game losing streak and get back into the mix for the playoffs.
Wilson has delivered disappointing results in his second season in the NFL. In seven starts this season, he has a 55.6 completion percentage, 1,279 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and five interceptions. His replacement, Mike White, completed 62 percent of his passes for 952 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in three starts for the Jets.
MORE: Why Zach Wilson was benched
Here's why Wilson will be returning under center for New York.
Why Zach Wilson will start over Mike White
During the Jets' 20-12 loss to the Bills, White took some serious hits. White left the game twice due to injury, returning both times, but had to go to the hospital after the game. He was listed as day-to-day with a rib injury after the contest.
Earlier in the week, White told reporters he had no doubts about starting on Sunday. He said he was just dealing with general soreness from the game.
"I'm preparing as such until something changes," White said.
Evidently, the medical team decided something needed to change. Despite White returning to the Bills' game twice after injuries and practicing during the week, team doctors did not clear him to play against Detroit, Saleh said, which has thrust Wilson back under center.
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Saleh clarified the situation during his Friday press conference, saying that while White was in the hospital, he was cleared and flew back on the team plane and "everything checked out fine." He said White was later cleared for practice, but team doctors did not clear him for contact.
Saleh said White has sought other opinions to clear him to play, but he has "exhausted every measure he possibly can." He would not go into exact specifics about the severity of his injury.
"That opinion will not change and it's gotten to the point where we could drag this out to Sunday, but this is one of those deals where we've got to do what's best for the player and protect the player from the player," Saleh said.
Saleh said Wilson was elevated to the No. 2 quarterback with the understanding that he might need to play, and that during the week, he has gotten most of the first-team reps as the Jets have anticipated White missing Sunday's contest.
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New York plays on "Thursday Night Football" against the Jaguars in Week 16, and Saleh said there is still a possibility White could return to face Jacksonville. He said it was close on whether White would be able to play against Detroit, and that he could still be cleared for the next game.
Wilson's benching came after his controversial comments and a string of inadequate performances. But Saleh maintained on Friday that the team trusts him and that he's handled the situation well.
"I don't know if there's a trust issue," Saleh said. "He's got to go out there and do the best he possibly can and I know as a coaching staff we trust him and the team trusts him and it's just everyone doing their part and making sure that we execute at the highest level possible and do the best we can."
