Zach Wilson a mixed bag in first practice after Green & White Scrimmage

Mixed reviews for Zach Wilson at Monday’s practice

Zach Wilson had himself a “meh” kind of day at the New York Jets‘ Monday training camp practice, their first session after Wilson’s rough performance at the Green and White Scrimmage. It was also the first practice of the week leading into the team’s preseason opener against the New York Giants on Saturday, August 14.

On the positive side, Wilson and Corey Davis hooked up time and time again. It was a fantastic day for the Jets’ big-money wideout.

Zach Wilson finds Corey Davis in the end zone twice during 11 v 11 red zone drills. First catch was a well-placed ball that Davis did a great job of securing and staying inbounds. #Jets

— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 9, 2021

Wilson to Corey Davis on a nice fade for a TD.

Follows that by zipping another pass to Davis for a TD on the next play. #Jets

— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) August 9, 2021

Wilson appeared to taper off after a hot red-zone period.

Mixed day for Zach Wilson. Got off to a good start, hitting Davis for TDs on back-to-back plays in a red-zone period. Tailed off, though, ending practice with seven straight incompletions. Struggled in third-down period. Overall, 5-for-14, 2 TDs. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 9, 2021

As always, overreacting to stats from practice is incredibly silly, whether they be negative or positive.

There is so much that goes into determining the result of every single play that it is impossible to judge players according to basic descriptions of the final outcome of a play. Nobody can assuredly label a player’s performance as good or bad without rewatching a play multiple times, which unfortunately is not a luxury that fans and media get for training camp practices.

Descriptions like “completion,” “incompletion,” and “interception” with zero context don’t tell us much of anything. It does not make much sense to evaluate players off of those vague play-by-play tweets.

With that being said, training camp tweets are all we have right now (although we will finally be freed once the preseason begins in just a few days), so the best way to go about it is to keep sinking our teeth into these juicy reports while doing the best we can to learn from them without overvaluing them.

The 11-on-11 team drills and the third-down drills were the areas where Wilson wasn’t too sharp on this hot Monday in Florham Park.

Practice is over. Zach Wilson was so-so today.

Team drills he was 5-13.

Red zone team inside the 10, he was 2-4 with 2 TDs.

3-5 during the first team period. Only pass that went over 10 yards was to Cole.

3rd down team period 0-4. Took a sack. #Jets

— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 9, 2021

Robert Saleh spoke optimistically about Wilson’s less-than-stellar practices over the past few days, reminding the world that it typically takes time for young quarterbacks to hit their peak.

Robert Saleh references Peyton Manning while evaluating Zach Wilson’s game:

“It’s going to get worse before it gets better. There was a Hall of Famer that was inducted that had a 71 quarterback rating his rookie year” pic.twitter.com/KJi5fLmbAz

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 9, 2021

Saleh referenced Peyton Manning’s infamous rookie season as an example of the growing pains that tenderfoot passers usually experience. Manning led the NFL with 28 interceptions in the 1998 season.

Injury updates

Alijah Vera-Tucker (pec), Quinnen Williams (foot), Ashtyn Davis (foot), Jabari Zuniga (undisclosed), Del’Shawn Phillips (undisclosed), and Bennett Jackson (undisclosed) worked off to the side in the trainer’s area. Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Teton Saltes, who injured his knee at Saturday’s scrimmage, was not spotted.

Working in the trainers area:

Alijah Vera-Tucker, Quinnen Williams, Ashtyn Davis, Jabari Zuniga, Del’Shawn Phillips, Bennett Jackson.

Don’t see OL Teton Saltes, who injured a knee during the scrimmage Sat night. #Jets

— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) August 9, 2021

Vera-Tucker is expected to be back “soon,” according to Saleh. Williams is expected to return to practice at some point next week, ahead of the team’s preseason game against the Packers in Green Bay (Saturday, August 21).

#Jets HC Robert Saleh says rookie Alijah Vera-Tucker should practice “soon” but there’s no specific date for his return.

Quinnen Williams still on track to practice at some point next week.

— Ethan Greenberg (@EGreenbergJets) August 9, 2021

Offensive lineman Cameron Clark – who suffered a spinal cord contusion during a practice last week – is still being evaluated. Saleh says he will be out “a little bit.”

Saleh says Cam Clark is still being evaluated to see where he’s at physically.

AVT should be back soon. #Jets

— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) August 9, 2021

Quininen Williams (foot) still on track to return next week. Vera-Tucker (pec) still day-to-day. Cam Clark (spinal contusion) will be out “a little bit,” per Saleh. #Jets

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 9, 2021

Prior to this Saturday’s clash with the Giants, the Jets will have practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday is an off day.

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