Wilson went down with a non-contact knee injury, during Friday’s preseason win over the Eagles.
The second-year quarterback for the Jets will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
With the timeline for Wilson’s return expected to be 2-4 weeks, there’s a chance he’s ready for for Week 1. The Jets open their regular season schedule, September 11, against the Baltimore Ravens.
Wilson went down after hitting the turf without being touched by a defender. On the second series of the game for the Jets, Wilson scrambled out of the pocket and tried to cut inside to gain more yards. After getting looked at, he was able to limp back to the locker room.
Without Wilson, where do the Jets turn next at quarterback?
The Jets will turn to veteran quarterback Joe Flacco in practice and the preseason.
Flacco has earned strong reviews from head coach Robert Saleh. Moreover, it’s scenarios, such as this, which is why the Jets wanted a veteran quarterback on the roster. Flacco is battle-tested, having started for the Ravens from 2008 to 2018. He led them to a Super Bowl championship in the 2012 season.
“You guys know how I feel about Joe — everyone does, the whole world does,” Saleh said Friday night. “Joe’s a phenomenal football player. He’s having a great camp, and he’s got a lot of juice left in the tank.”
Best-case scenario for Wilson, the Jets
The reported prognosis on Wilson’s return is good news.
Wilson will have arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles. Saleh and the Jets will wait for the outcome before determining a timetable on Wilson’s return.
A 2-4 week window for recovery puts Wilson with a chance for returning in time for the season-opener.
Look for the Jets to be very careful with their young quarterback.
In a span of 10 months, Wilson has now had two injuries to his right knee. Last season, he missed four games as a rookie after spraining his PCL.
With a veteran quarterback on the depth chart, who’s looked very good in training camp, there’s no reason to rush Wilson back.
Moves were made to by general manager Joe Douglas which emphasize just how pivotal this second season is for Wilson.
This offseason, the Jets prioritized upgrading their offense. Additionally, when offensive lineman Mekhi Becton went down last week with likely a season-ending injury, the Jets moved quickly with signing five-time Pro Bowler Duane Brown to fill the void.
This isn’t the start they were looking for, however, there’s time to get Wilson right before taking the field. If this means not having him ready for the season-opener, so be it. With Flacco, there’s a veteran quarterback in the room the coaching staff has full confidence in to hold down the fort.
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Anthony Rushing is on Twitter @TonyRushingNY
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