Former QB talks how Jets can help Zach Wilson possibly succeed

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is sticking with the struggling Zach Wilson as his starting quarterback until further notice. 

Former Jets signal-caller and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason has an idea for how Saleh's staff could help Wilson improve beginning when 1-2 New York hosts the 2-1 Kansas City Chiefs this coming Sunday night. 

"They’re trying to break him of those mistakes, and when you do that, all of a sudden, he’s playing tight, he’s playing not to make a mistake as opposed to just freely going out there and playing," Esiason said about Wilson during Tuesday's edition of the WFAN "Boomer And Gio" program, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "I don’t know if no-huddle, or in and out of the huddle quicker would be good for Zach, less thinking." 

According to ESPN stats, Wilson ended Week 3 of the season ranked 33rd out of 34 qualified players with a 26.7 adjusted QBR. He also began Tuesday dead last in the league with a 57.0 passer rating and a 52.4% completion percentage. 

However, Steve Serby noted for the New York Post that Wilson went 7-for-10 during a fourth-quarter drive that ended with a touchdown in this past Sunday's 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots when, as Jets tight end Tyler Conklin put it, the 24-year-old was "getting on the ball, not huddling, just getting into the flow of things" in a hurry-up offense. 

Esiason suggested Tuesday that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett should try to speed things up rather than slow them down for Wilson. 

"I think Zach is a kid that can probably go through the game plan on the whiteboard," Esiason added. "But once he gets in the game, the lack of awareness shows up." 

The Jets aren't landing Kirk Cousins from the Minnesota Vikings unless the Vikings give up on this season before the Oct. 31 trade deadline. Options such as unproven backup Tim Boyle, journeyman Trevor Siemian and free agent Colin Kaepernick aren't realistic saviors for a Jets team that was targeting at least a Super Bowl appearance before Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1. 

For better or for worse, all involved must do whatever it takes to get the best out of Wilson as soon as possible to prevent Sunday's prime-time encounter at MetLife Stadium from becoming a laugher before halftime.