Jets QB Zach Wilson Named NFL Rookie Of The Week
Oct 7, 2021, 2:22 PM | Updated: 2:24 pm
(Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former BYU and current New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson received the NFL’s top rookie for Week 4 of the 2021 season.
Wilson was named the NFL’s Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week on Thursday, October 7.
The former BYU star led the Jets to their first win of the season four days earlier.
We love to see it, @ZachWilson.
📰 https://t.co/b6KBIEuHZR pic.twitter.com/dOkKGQqHf4
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 7, 2021
“I wouldn’t say we fully arrived,” Wilson recently told the media. “I would definitely say that this is just another puzzle piece to where we’re trying to get. We’ve got to stack blocks. We’ve got to just keep getting better. We can’t make the same mistakes twice.”
After receiving the Rookie of the Week honor, the first-year QB received some love from his teammates and head coach.
the guys showed Zach so much love 🤗 pic.twitter.com/K6MCT8lGsv
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 7, 2021
“Everyone saw the creativity and the off-schedule stuff that is getting all the attention,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said of Wilson. “He’s in [a] really good headspace. His mindset’s in the right spot in terms of he knows he can be even better and those are things he’ll continue to grow on.”
Win Over Titans
On Sunday, October 3, New York hosted the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium.
Wilson had a breakout performance and helped the Jets beat the Titans in overtime, 27-24.
The Jets trailed the Titans by seven points in the fourth quarter before Wilson led a comeback.
With 11:30 remaining in regulation, the former BYU gunslinger tossed a three-yard pass to Jamison Crowder to know the game at 17-17.
TIE BALLGAME!!#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/cbnAOW6KFB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021
Less than three minutes later, Wilson connected with Corey Davis for six points on a deep ball of 53 yards. Wilson’s second touchdown pass put the Jets up 24-17.
Zach Wilson 👀 #LocalsInTheNFL #TakeFlight #TENvsNYJ #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports pic.twitter.com/jQY5N2zf21
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 3, 2021
The Titans tied the game on a touchdown with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The score sent the game into overtime.
Wilson marched the Jets down the field for a go-ahead field on the opening possession of overtime.
Tennessee’s Randy Bullock missed a potentially game-tying 49-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in overtime and New York secured its first win of the season.
.@ZachWilson gets his first NFL victory. ✈️🤙#LocalsInTheNFL #TakeFlight #TENvsNYJ #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL https://t.co/Wtmb9HaXEi
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 3, 2021
Wilson finished the game 21/34 passing for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
The Jets own a record of 1-3 on the season.
New York’s next game is against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, October 10 at 7:30 a.m. (MDT). The game will be televised on the NFL Network.
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).