Getty New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson getting sacked in the middle of an NFL game.
Things haven’t gone swimmingly for New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson through the first three weeks of the 2023 season.
In Week 4 they will face off against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of that matchup, Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay was asked what had he seen on tape from Wilson and the Jets offense?
After pausing for three or four seconds, he smiled and said, “Damn, that was a hard question, I can’t lie. A team that wants to run the ball. That wasn’t to be funny or anything.”
Here’s the entire quote that’s now circulating from Chiefs LB Willie Gay. Many people cropped the video short and made it look like a slam.
What he said is accurate.
(🎥: @aaronladdtv)
Gay Provides Bulletin Board Material for Jets Ahead of Week 4
Gay’s saying “that wasn’t to be funny” is similar to people saying “with all due respect” and following it up with an insult. Even though he said his comment wasn’t meant to mock, it certainly came off that way.
It’s how his comment was perceived that’s important. Some pundits took it as a sign of disrespect, bulletin board material ahead of the teams’ October 1 matchup.
Rich Cimini of ESPN called it an “interesting reply…”
Connor Hughes of SNY was more direct: “If these comments don’t light a fire under Wilson to start slinging it, nothing will. It’s one thing when media, talk shows, fans critique you, but this is another player in the NFL. Has to sting. Now how do you respond?”
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic highlighted another line from Gay: “[Aaron Rodgers] got hurt and they turned into a team in panic mode.”
Nothing Gay said was necessarily inaccurate. It’s the fact that he said it at all. It’s like the old saying goes: “I can say something about my brother, but you can’t.”
Chiefs Game Is Likely Wilson’s Last Shot at Being a Starter for Jets
Wilson is on borrowed time as a starting quarterback for the Jets. Through the first three weeks of the season his only competition was fellow backup Tim Boyle.
Head coach Robert Saleh made it clear after the 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots that he wasn’t a legitimate threat to take QB1 reps in practice, let alone push Wilson for his gig.
However, this week the team signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian, a proven NFL veteran with 30 starts across six seasons under his belt. His signing with the Jets is his second stint with the team. He appeared in one game in 2019, going 3-of-6 for 3 yards. Last season, he was on the Chicago Bears, appearing in two games and starting one.
The clock is now ticking for Wilson. If he continues to struggle, it’ll only be a matter of time before Siemian steals his gig.
Last season, Wilson was benched on multiple occasions. If he gets benched again this season that will likely be his last shot as a starter with the Jets and quite frankly that might be his last shot in the NFL.
The spotlight will be bright on Sunday Night Football in Week 4 as the Jets welcome in the Chiefs. Wilson will be dueling with the face of the league and the best quarterback in football, Patrick Mahomes.