Jets coach Robert Saleh calls Zach Wilson 'unquestioned quarterback' as one rumored replacement takes name off list

Sean Leahy

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is standing by Zach Wilson as the team's starting quarterback ahead of their Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilson struggled Sunday, going 18-for-36 with 157 yards passing in New York's 15-10 defeat to the New England Patriots. Even so, Saleh talked up the 24-year-old's progress postgame and noted that there is a lot of football left to play this season.

But the Jets are already 1-2 and face long odds when they host the defending Super Bowl champions on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. You can imagine fans wondering if the team plans to bring in a replacement after much of their hope in this season was lost with Aaron Rodgers' season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1.

When you hear Saleh speak, however, it doesn't appear that a change will be coming anytime soon. On Monday, the head coach continued his support of Wilson.

"He's our unquestioned quarterback," he said. "As long as he continues to show his preparation, the way he's been practicing, and even in these games, he's not the reason why we lost [Sunday]. It's always a team effort. As long as he continues to show improvement, I know from a box score standpoint, it's not showing, he's going to be our quarterback."

Asked if the team plans to add another quarterback this week, Saleh referred all questions of that nature to general manager Joe Douglas.

If Douglas is looking for a Wilson replacement, Matt Ryan will not be the guy.

The former Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts quarterback joined CBS Sports as an analyst in May after a 15-year NFL career. But he ended his announcement message on what was then known as Twitter with "P.S. - this is not a retirement post 😉."

However, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reported over the weekend that the Jets, seeking some stability at the quarterback position following Rodgers' injury and Wilson's struggles, turned down approaches from both Ryan and Carson Wentz to help.

Appearing Monday on CBS Sports HQ, the 38-year-old Ryan said he wasn't interested in a return and his agent was just doing his job in reaching out.

"My agent is one of the best at what he does — Todd France is incredible. And he wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't looking into certain situations," the 2016 NFL MVP said. "But he and I talked, and I've got no interest in doing that right now. I'm enjoying what I'm doing."

Ryan, of course, has 12 million reasons to not officially announce his retirement. The Colts owe him $12 million in guaranteed money after cutting him in March, and per Pro Football Talk, if he were to sign with another NFL team, they would be off the hook for that money.

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