The New York Jets’ quarterback merry-go-round continues to spin. It’s been spinning so long, in fact, the struggling team is set to move into a tie for an somewhat obscure NFL category.
Most starting quarterbacks during the 2023 season.
The Jets are set to join the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings with their fourth starting quarterback. Trevor Siemian, a 31-year-old veteran, getting the nod for the team’s game Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
The only difference: The Browns (9-5) and Vikings (7-7) remain in playoff contention while the Jets (5-9) will miss the playoffs for the 13th straight season.
Jets fans hoped – or perhaps prayed – Aaron Rodgers and a sufficiently repaired Achilles tendon would return. No such luck.
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Instead, it will be Siemian, who last started during Week 12 of the 2022 season for the Chicago Bears.
Siemian has seen action in two games this season: last weekend against the Miami Dolphins and December 3 against the Atlanta Falcons. He has thrown two interceptions and no touchdowns while competing 19 of 39 passes for 176 yards.
The announcement came Friday, when Jets coach Robert Saleh also disclosed quarterback Zach Wilson will not play Sunday. He started last week against the Miami Dolphins but suffered a head injury during the first half and has been dealing with concussion symptoms.
“He will not clear the protocol,’’ Saleh said, while adding Wilson could be available for the Jets’ game Thursday against the Cleveland Browns, setting up the quarterback merry-go-round to spin yet again.
This season the Jets have had three starting quarterbacks: Rodgers, who started the opener before tearing his Achilles tendon four snaps into the season; Wilson, who has made 11 starts; and Tim Boyle, who started twice before being released earlier this month.
The Jets anounced Wednesday that Rodgers will not return to action this season, though he was activated off injured reserve so he can practice with the team.
Siemian, picked in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, has bounced around, signing with seven teams.
His latest team has lost six of its last seven games, and, thanks in part to the quarterback merry-go-round, is a wreck.