The Jets appear set to start their fourth quarterback of the season on Sunday.
Zach Wilson did not participate in Thursday’s walk-through practice, the second straight day he’s missed as he remains in concussion protocol.
Wilson still has to be a full participant in practice then be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to return, and it’s unlikely he will be able to do so before Sunday’s clash against the Commanders.
He left last week’s loss to the Dolphins with a head injury that the team initially said was dehydration then later announced was a concussion.
Wilson’s mother, Lisa, on Monday posted on Instagram that Wilson at first didn’t reveal the extent of his symptoms to the team in an attempt to stay in the game until experiencing blurred vision.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett certainly sounded like he was planning on Trevor Siemian to be his quarterback.
“I’ve been keeping my head down trying to get Trevor ready for this game,” Hackett said Thursday. “We have to look at all the different things Trevor’s comfortable with that we can get going this week.”
Siemian has appeared in two games this year — a Week 13 loss to the Falcons, when he replaced the benched Tim Boyle, then last week after Wilson exited with the injury.
He’s completed just 19 of 39 passes for 176 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in those appearances.
Aaron Rodgers did not practice for the second straight day.
Though his attempted comeback from his torn Achilles is officially over, Rodgers was added to the 53-man roster so that he is eligible to practice with the team the rest of the season. … John Franklin-Myers, who exited Sunday’s loss with a hip injury, also missed his second straight practice.
With the Jets officially eliminated from the playoffs, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich suggested first-round rookie Will McDonald is likely to see more action the final three games of the season.
McDonald has found playing time hard to come by behind the team’s stacked pass-rushing unit, and has played just 18 percent of the team’s defensive snaps.
“He’s absolutely earned that right,” Ulbrich said. “The way he’s worked, the way he’s continued to push himself and master this front. He’s definitely earned the right to get more reps, and he will.”
Trailing 7-0 during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss, the Jets tried and failed on a fake punt on fourth-and-4 from their own 42-yard line.
It was a direct snap to safety Ashtyn Davis, who was in as the upback on the play.
He was immediately stuffed, and the Jets turned it over on downs.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer defended the decision.
“We’re trying to win,” Boyer said. “We’re trying to be aggressive. The bottom line is, it didn’t work. We’ve been pretty successful at fakes since I’ve been here. That’s one that didn’t work. Bottom line is, we’re gonna still keep doing it. … It’s not gonna scare us away in any shape or form.”