Quinnen Williams does not want to hear your criticism.
The Jets defensive tackle said he does not “want to hear that s–t,” when asked about what is being said about his team and in particular about rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.
Williams initially laughed when asked if he did not think Jets fans had a right to criticize them, particularly with how dreadful they have been in recent years. He then clarified why he does not want to listen to it and advises teammates to do the same.
“I’m saying people that have got negative stuff to say about Zach and the team, we’re not listening to it,” he said. “Because if you listen to the negative things, you can eventually believe in those negative things and you can eventually go into a tank about those negative things. So for me, for the team, and for Zach, we aren’t listening to the negative s–t that’s being said.”
Williams, who was drafted No. 3 overall in 2019 by the Jets, began discussing the negative talk when asked what advice he has for Wilson, the No. 2-overall pick this year.
“You’ve got to ignore people who are not next to you, ignore people who are not battling with you,” Williams said. “Only worry about people who come to work every single day and believe in you. But people in the media and people who have got stuff to say on social media, nobody really cares what they say and you shouldn’t care what they say.
“Everybody with a negative comment about Zach, nobody wants to hear that s–t. Basically, that’s how I feel. If you have a negative comment about Zach, I don’t want to hear that s–t. I’m going to tell him: ‘Ignore it.’ Like coach [Robert] Saleh always says: ‘Ignore the elevator music.’ ”
Williams seemed to take issue with the criticism coming from those who have not played in the NFL.
“Because people who are saying it don’t play,” Williams said. “People who are saying it are not in the building. The people who criticize Zach and criticize us as a team and say all the negative stuff [about us] as a team, you’ve got to ignore that s–t.”
Robert Saleh said rookie WR Elijah Moore is in the concussion protocol. TE Tyler Kroft is “day-to-day” with a chest injury.
With Moore’s status for Sunday uncertain and Jamison Crowder still working his way back from a groin injury, could Denzel Mims be active against the Titans? “With [Moore] and Jamison being up in the air, for sure,” Saleh said. “We have to think about Denzel, keep etching out a role for him and see if we can get him on the field and produce.”