Zach Wilson put on an impressive performance in the Denver Broncos’ final preseason game on Sunday, with fans convinced the New York Jets were to blame for his recent struggles.
Wilson was traded to the Broncos by the Jets earlier this year after a miserable three-year stint in New York, where he failed to live up to his promise as the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The 25-year-old is expected to play as Denver’s backup to rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has already been confirmed as Sean Payton’s starter for next season.
However, in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, he made a strong case to overtake Jarrett Stidham for the second spot.
Wilson led Denver on four scoring drives to cap a perfect preseason with a 38-12 rout of Arizona.
Zach Wilson had an impressive performance in the Denver Broncos’ final preseason game
In his most extensive action this summer, the former Jet started a touchdown drive with a 21-yard run while also throwing a 46-yard touchdown on a frozen string of a pass to Brandon Johnson with a beaten defensive back crossing his path as he sped toward the end zone.
It was a solid day at the office for Wilson, and fans have attacked the Jets on social media after accusing them of not getting the best out of him in recent years.
One wrote: ‘I will never forgive the New York Jets for what they did to Zach Wilson.’
Another posted: “I mean, I was told everything last year was Zach Wilson’s fault and he’d be out of the league by now. I guess maybe Sean Payton knows more about football than the brain-dead morons on Twitter and the Jets media.”
A third asked: “So it wasn’t Zach Wilson, it was the Jets?”
While a fourth concluded: ‘Zach Wilson just needed to avoid being drafted by the Jets lol because there’s talent there.’
Fans are furious with the New York Jets for not getting the best out of Wilson (pictured: Jets head coach Robert Saleh)
Several users took to X to criticize the Jets for wasting their former quarterback’s potential.
Wilson has 33 career NFL starts and that experience showed when he started an 11-play, 77-yard touchdown drive with an impressive run from his own 13-yard line on second-and-20. He finished that drive with a one-yard touchdown pass. to tight end Nate Atkins that gave Denver a 14-0 lead.
His one-yard keeper capped an 88-yard drive that made it 24-6 in the third quarter and found Johnson from 46 yards out with 6:22 remaining.
Wilson completed 16 of 25 passes for 251 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in relief of Stidham, who directed a 10-play, 55-yard drive while completing 2 of 4 passes for 28 yards.