The careers of Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson will endlessly be linked.
Now for the second time, their groups will sq. off in opposition to one another and this time it’s a vital AFC matchup with so much at stake.
The Jets will host the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football in entrance of a nationwide viewers on the Meadowlands. Jacksonville chosen Lawrence with the No. 1 general decide within the 2021 NFL Draft and Wilson was chosen a decide later by the Jets.
Last yr, the Jets defeated the Jaguars 26-21 in a Week 15 matchup as Wilson set a Jets report for a quarterback with 91 yards dashing, which was highlighted by a 52-yard landing — the longest run by a QB in franchise historical past.
“I got to know him through the draft process and stuff, he’s really, truly a great dude, I love the way he carries himself, the way he handles himself,” Wilson stated about Lawrence. “I haven’t adopted him a ton, I believe it looks like he’s been having a very good yr, he’s a type of dudes that’s by no means going to give up and he’s all the time going to type of do what’s needed to verify he’s bettering and getting higher.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for him, so I’m sure I’ll probably see him on the field and say what’s up.”
After each quarterbacks had shedding information of their rookie seasons, their second seasons may’ve gone any otherwise. Lawrence is displaying why he was thought-about a quarterback prodigy popping out of Clemson. In 14 video games, Lawrence has thrown for 3,520 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
“Trevor is the type of guy that things of that stuff bother him and he’s going to learn from it and move on,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson stated of his younger QB.
“I believe it’s only a credit score to the place we’re as a soccer workforce proper now, confidence that each side and all three phases that offense and protection are enjoying with. If the offense turns the ball over, the protection is like, ‘Hey, we’ll both get a cease or get the ball again in some unspecified time in the future.’
“Same way, if the defense allows a touchdown, the offense is like, ‘Hey, we got to go score.’ It’s the complementary aspect of the game, but for Trevor, as the leader, guys really like how he’s playing and how he’s leading, his toughness, and that goes a long way with the guys in the locker room.”
On the opposite hand, Wilson has had a mediocre sophomore marketing campaign within the NFL. During the preseason, Wilson suffered a meniscus harm and he missed the primary three video games of the common season. When he returned, Wilson displayed among the identical inconsistencies that plagued him throughout his rookie yr.
Despite a 5-2 report, the Jets benched Wilson following their inept Week 11 loss to the Patriots as head coach Robert Saleh stated they needed to provide the previous BYU standout an opportunity to reset and work on his mechanics. Gang Green turned to Mike White as an alternative and he went 1-2 in his begins, throwing for 952 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. But White suffered fractured ribs within the Week 14 loss to the Bills and has not been cleared for contact ever since.
That pressured the Jets to show again to Wilson final week. He had his good and unhealthy moments in opposition to the Lions, ending 18-of-35 for 317 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 20-17 loss. But Wilson reverted to among the identical technical and decision-making points that bought him benched within the first place.
Wilson has thrown for 1,596 yards, six TDs and 6 interceptions in eight video games whereas finishing 54.9% of his passes.
“We all thought he had a good week of practice,” Saleh stated. “Really felt like he performed a very good recreation. He felt snug in follow. Looked like the whole lot was going precisely how we needed it to, and I assumed it confirmed on Sunday, loads of issues confirmed on Sunday. He attacked it.
“He attacked the three weeks, just working with the scout team. I thought he’s been doing a really nice job since that New England game.”
Not solely will Wilson have strain to beat Lawrence and the Jaguars on nationwide TV, however the Jets’ playoff destiny can be at stake. With three video games left to go, Gang Green is 7-7 and in ninth place within the AFC. That is a far cry from the Jets’ 5-2 report following their Week 7 win in opposition to the Broncos.
Since then, they’ve misplaced 5 of their final seven, together with three consecutive losses. Another defeat and Gang Green’s playoff hopes may go up in smoke.
Following a 2-6 begin, the Jaguars have rebounded and are 6-8 and path the Titans by only a recreation for the lead within the AFC South.
Even with so much on the road, Wilson stated he received’t get caught up within the hype of him versus Lawrence.
“We’re just trying to go against those guys,” Wilson stated. “It’s interesting because it’s almost like it’s two separate things when you’re sitting there watching the other quarterback, it’s not even the same kind of game. We’re going against their defense. It is separate, of course, but you’re always trying to go out there and get that win.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com