Locals in the NFL: Zach Wilson benched — again — after another rough outing with Jets

AROUND THE SHIELD — The New York Jets' patience with quarterback Zach Wilson appears to be wearing thin, but head coach Robert Saleh insists the former BYU quarterback remains in the team's plan.

Wilson was benched — again — during the Jets' 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, when the Corner Canyon product completed just 9-of-18 passes for 92 yards and an interception, and was booed nearly every time he touched the ball before being replaced by practice squad quarterback Chris Streveler.

The 2019 Grey Cup champion in the CFL was only marginally better, completing 10-of-15 passes for 90 yards and running for a team-high 54 yards in place of Wilson, who was also sacked three times.

But by Monday, the Jets (7-8) made the official call: Mike White would start for New York's Week 17 game against Seattle, with the Jets maintaining a sliver of hope for a playoff berth. Wilson will not dress, with Joe Flacco being listed as White's primary backup, head coach Saleh said.

"I thought Mike had been doing a great job," Saleh told New York media of White, who started three games before missing the past two weeks with fractured ribs. "I thought he did a great job moving the offense, sustaining drives, getting first downs, much more efficient. The offense was running with some good efficiency.

"It's a great opportunity for him, it's a great opportunity for anybody any time you get the chance to step on the field. Really, he just needs to take it one day at a time and go from there."

Even before Monday's official confirmation, Saleh refused to commit to Wilson as a potential starter against the Seahawks while most fans and several notable national media voices threw the former BYU standout under the bus after throwing for 1,688 yards and six touchdowns with seven interceptions en route to a quarterback rating of 37.2, the No. 28 rating in the NFL.

Yet despite New York's four-game losing skid, the Jets (somewhat improbably) haven't been eliminated from postseason contention. The Packers' comeback win over the Dolphins helped keep hope alive, as did New England's 22-18 loss to Cincinnati.

So for at least another week, Saleh's focus remained on making the playoffs, which is why he said he's bringing back White. Beyond the focus of the next two weeks for the former No. 2 overall draft pick?

That's anybody's guess, but Saleh insisted the Jets "are not quitting on the young man."

"The plan for Zach hasn't changed," Saleh said. "I still think he has a future here, I still think he's going to be a really good quarterback. He needs time to just kind of sit back and continue the development that we're trying to re-kickstart after the New England game. We still have him in our future and in our plans."

"We're going to do everything we can to develop him," he later added.

Here's how other former local high school and college football players performed in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL regular season.

Monday Night Football

LA Chargers, 20, Indianapolis 3

Chargers (9-6)

• Michael Davis, CB, BYU: Starting cornerback had seven tackles, three passes defended and a 30-yard interception return on defense
• Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU: Starting edge rusher had two tackles for loss, a 5-yard sack and two quarterback hits on defense
• Alohi Gilman, S, Orem: Reserve safety made five tackles on defense

Colts (4-10-1)

• Julian Blackmon, FS, Utah/Layton: Starting free safety total nine tackles on defense
• Zack Moss, RB, Utah: Starting running back posted team-high 65 yards on 12 carries, caught one pass for 5 yards on offense

Sunday games

Green Bay 26, Miami 20

Packers (7-8)

• Jordan Love, QB, Utah State: Active, but did not play
• Dallin Leavitt, S, Utah State/BYU: Made two tackles, attempted a run in punt formation in 20 snaps on special teams

Dolphins (8-7)

• Eric Rowe, DB, Utah: Starting safety had six tackles, a sack and a pass defended in 53 defensive snaps, in addition to shouting out one South Florida broadcaster after a 32-year career.

LA Rams 51, Denver 14

Rams (5-10)

• Bobby Wagner, LB, Utah State: Starting linebacker had eight tackles, a sack and an interception in 59 snaps on defense, two on special teams
• Matt Gay, K, Utah/UVU/Orem: Made field goals of 55, 30 and 53 yards with six PATs in 19 snaps on special teams
• Jonah Williams, DE, Weber State: Starting defensive lineman had three tackles, three quarterback hits and shared a sack in 36 snaps on defense, 11 on special teams

Broncos (4-11)

• No locals on the active roster

Tampa Bay 19, Arizona 16

Buccaneers (7-8)

• Deven Thompkins, WR, Utah State: Returned one punt for 15 yards with five fair catches and three kickoffs for 68 yards in 13 snaps on special teams, with four more on offense

Cardinals (4-11)

• Leki Fotu, DL, Utah/Herriman: Starting nose tackle made three stops in 47 snaps on defense, nine on special teams

Saturday games

Baltimore 17, Atlanta 9

Ravens (10-5)

• Tyler Huntley, QB, Utah: Starting quarterback completed 9-of-17 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, ran for 26 yards and a 2-point conversion with a fumble in all 52 offensive snaps

Falcons (5-10)

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU: Reserve running back ran for 74 yards on 18 carries and caught four passes for 43 yards with one tackle in 42 offensive snaps

Carolina 37, Detroit 23

Panthers (6-9)

• Brady Christensen, OG, BYU/Bountiful: Starting left guard played all 68 offensive snaps

Lions (7-8)

• Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU: Reserve running back had 11 yards on seven carries, caught two passes for three yards in 16 snaps on offense
• Penei Sewell, OT, Desert Hills: Starting right tackle played all six snaps on offense

Buffalo 35, Chicago 13

Bills (12-3)

• Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State: Starting cornerback made three tackles in 47 defensive snaps

Bears (3-12)

• Patrick Scales, LS, Utah State/Weber: Played seven snaps on special teams with one tackle
• Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah/Murray: Starting left tackle played all 63 offensive snaps

New Orleans 17, Cleveland 10

Saints (6-9)

• Taysom Hill, TE, BYU: Reserve tight end ran for 56 yards on nine carries, including an 8-yard touchdown, in 25 snaps on offense and 15 more on special teams
• Daniel Sorensen, S, BYU: Reserve safety had 36-yard interception return and six tackles in 41 snaps on defense and 18 on special teams
• Rashid Shaheed, WR/RS, Weber State: Starting wide receiver caught team-high four passes for 41 yards in 23 offensive snaps, had one fair catch and two kickoff returns for 47 yards in eight snaps on special teams
• Chase Hansen, LB, Utah/Lone Peak: Starting in 4-2-5 secondary and made three tackles in 15 defensive snaps, one tackle in 16 snaps on special teams
• Kaden Elliss, LB, Judge Memorial: Starting linebacker had seven tackles and a tackle for loss in 54 defensive snaps, added seven more on special teams

Browns (6-9)

• No locals on the active roster

Kansas City 24, Seattle 10

Chiefs (12-3)

• No locals on the active roster, but coached by former BYU offensive lineman/graduate assistant Andy Reid

Seahawks (7-8)

• Cody Barton, LB, Utah/Brighton: Starting linebacker made eight tackles in 44 snaps on defense, 14 more on special teams

Minnesota 27, NY Giants 24

Vikings (12-3)

• Khyiris Tonga, DT, BYU/Granger: Reserve defensive lineman had a tackle, shared a sack and added a pass defended in 26 defensive snaps, four more on special teams

Giants (8-6-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Cincinnati 22, New England 18

Bengals (11-4)

• Jalen Davis, CB, Utah State: Inactive for Week 16
• Jay Tufele, DT, Bingham: Active, but did not play

Patriots (7-8)

• No locals on the active roster

Houston 19, Tennessee 14

Texans (2-12-1)

• No locals on the active roster

Titans (7-8)

• No locals on the active roster

San Francisco 37, Washington 20

49ers (11-4)

• Fred Warner, LB, BYU: Starting linebacker posted team-high 13 tackles in 67 defensive snaps, three more on special teams
• Mitch Wisnowksy, P, Utah: Punted twice for 80 yards in nine snaps on special teams

Commanders (7-7-1)

• Dax Milne, WR/RS, BYU/Bingham: Reserved receiver fielded one punt for 4 yards, three kickoffs in five snaps on special teams

Dallas 40, Philadelphia 34

Cowboys (11-4)

• Dalton Schultz, TE, Bingham: Starting tight end caught three passes for 21 yards in 63 offensive snaps

Eagles (13-2)

• Sua Opeta, OG, Weber State/Stansbury: Inactive for Week 16
• Britain Covey, WR/RS, Utah/Timpview: Reserve receiver had one fair catch in one snap on special teams

Pittsburgh 13, Las Vegas 10

Steelers (7-8)

• Jaylen Warren, RB, Utah State/Snow/East: Reserve running back ran six times for 23 yards, caught one pass for seven yards in 21 snaps on offense, seven on special teams
• Miles KIllebrew, S, Southern Utah: Reserve safety played 15 snaps on special teams

Raiders (6-9)

• Andre James, OC, Herriman: Starting center played all 15 offensive snaps
• Jackson Barton, OT, Utah/Brightons: Inactive for Week 16

Thursday Night Football

Jacksonville 19, NY Jets 3

Jaguars (7-8)

• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Starting linebacker had team-high nine tackles and a 19-yard interception return in 41 defensive snaps

Jets (7-8)

• Zach Wilson, QB, BYU/Corner Canyon: Starting quarterback completed 9-of-18 passes for 92 yards and an interception with three sacks taken in 29 offensive snaps

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