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The Mind-Blowing Journey Of Zach Wilson's Rookie Year

Trends January 14, 2025

What was Zach Wilson's rookie year like? As a rookie quarterback for the New York Jets in 2021, Zach Wilson's season was a rollercoaster of highs and lows.

Wilson showed flashes of his potential, completing 55.6% of his passes for 2,334 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also added 184 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.

However, Wilson also struggled with consistency and made several costly mistakes. He was sacked 44 times and threw 11 interceptions, which led to the Jets finishing with a 4-13 record.

Despite the struggles, Wilson showed enough promise to give Jets fans hope for the future. He has a strong arm, good mobility, and the potential to be a franchise quarterback.

Here is a table with some of Zach Wilson's key stats from his rookie year:

Statistic	Value
Passing yards	2,334
Passing touchdowns	9
Passing interceptions	11
Rushing yards	184
Rushing touchdowns	4

Overall, Zach Wilson's rookie year was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of his potential, but he also made some costly mistakes. The Jets are hoping that Wilson can take a step forward in his second season and help lead the team to a more successful campaign.

Zach Wilson Rookie Year

Zach Wilson's rookie year with the New York Jets was a rollercoaster of emotions. He showed flashes of his potential, but he also made some costly mistakes. Here are six key aspects of his rookie year:

Passing yards: 2,334
Passing touchdowns: 9
Passing interceptions: 11
Rushing yards: 184
Rushing touchdowns: 4
Wins: 4
Losses: 13

Wilson's passing yards and touchdowns were respectable for a rookie quarterback, but his 11 interceptions were a concern. He also struggled with consistency, as evidenced by his four-game stretch in which he threw nine interceptions. However, Wilson did show some promise as a runner, rushing for 184 yards and four touchdowns.

Overall, Wilson's rookie year was a mixed bag. He showed some potential, but he also made some mistakes. The Jets are hoping that Wilson can take a step forward in his second season and help lead the team to a more successful campaign.

1. Passing yards

Zach Wilson's 2,334 passing yards in his rookie year were a respectable total for a first-year quarterback. It ranked him 25th in the NFL, ahead of several more experienced quarterbacks, including Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, and Teddy Bridgewater.

Wilson's passing yards were a key component of the Jets' offense in 2021. He led the team in passing attempts, completions, and yards, and his 9 touchdown passes were second only to wide receiver Elijah Moore.

However, Wilson's passing yards also came with some caveats. He threw 11 interceptions, which was tied for the 10th most in the NFL. He also struggled with consistency, as evidenced by his four-game stretch in which he threw nine interceptions.

Overall, Wilson's 2,334 passing yards in his rookie year were a mixed bag. They showed that he has the potential to be a productive passer in the NFL, but he also needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.

2. Passing touchdowns

Zach Wilson's 9 passing touchdowns in his rookie year were a modest total for a starting quarterback. It ranked him 29th in the NFL, behind several more experienced quarterbacks, including Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, and Teddy Bridgewater.

However, Wilson's 9 touchdown passes were still a key component of the Jets' offense in 2021. He led the team in touchdown passes, and his 9 touchdowns were second only to wide receiver Elijah Moore.

Wilson's touchdown passes came at a crucial time for the Jets. The Jets offense struggled to score points in 2021, averaging only 18.2 points per game. Wilson's touchdown passes helped the Jets win several close games, including a Week 16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Overall, Wilson's 9 passing touchdowns in his rookie year were a mixed bag. They showed that he has the potential to be a productive passer in the NFL, but he also needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.

3. Passing interceptions

Zach Wilson's 11 passing interceptions in his rookie year were a major concern. It tied him for the 10th most interceptions in the NFL, and it was the most interceptions thrown by a Jets rookie quarterback since Mark Sanchez in 2009.

Wilson's interceptions were a key factor in the Jets' struggles in 2021. The Jets finished with a 4-13 record, and their offense ranked near the bottom of the NFL in several key categories, including points per game and yards per game.

There were several factors that contributed to Wilson's high interception total. One factor was his tendency to make risky throws. Wilson often tried to force the ball into tight windows, and he was often intercepted as a result.

Another factor that contributed to Wilson's interceptions was his lack of experience. Wilson was only 22 years old when he became the Jets' starting quarterback, and he had only one year of starting experience at BYU. As a result, he was still learning the NFL game and making mistakes.

Despite his struggles, Wilson showed some promise as a passer in his rookie year. He completed 55.6% of his passes for 2,334 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also rushed for 184 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Jets are hoping that Wilson can learn from his mistakes and improve his decision-making in his second season. If he can do that, he has the potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL.

4. Rushing yards

Zach Wilson's 184 rushing yards in his rookie year were a surprising total for a quarterback. It ranked him 10th among all quarterbacks in the NFL, and it was the most rushing yards by a Jets quarterback since Michael Vick in 2014.

Wilson's mobility was a key component of the Jets' offense in 2021. He was able to extend plays with his legs and pick up yards on the ground when the passing game was struggling.
Wilson's rushing ability also helped the Jets win several close games. In Week 16, Wilson rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown in a Week 17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wilson's rushing ability is a valuable asset for the Jets. It makes him a more dangerous quarterback and it helps the Jets offense be more unpredictable.
Wilson's rushing ability is still a work in progress. He sometimes takes unnecessary risks when running the ball, and he needs to improve his ball security.

Overall, Wilson's 184 rushing yards in his rookie year were a positive development for the Jets. It showed that he is a versatile quarterback who can make plays with his legs as well as his arm. If Wilson can continue to develop as a runner, he has the potential to be one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL.

5. Rushing touchdowns

Zach Wilson's 4 rushing touchdowns in his rookie year were a significant achievement for a quarterback. It tied him for the 6th most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the NFL in 2021, and it was the most rushing touchdowns by a Jets quarterback since Michael Vick in 2014.

Wilson's rushing ability was a key component of the Jets' offense in 2021. It helped the Jets win several close games, including a Week 16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Wilson rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Wilson's rushing ability also helped him develop as a passer. It allowed him to extend plays with his legs and buy time for his receivers to get open.
Wilson's rushing ability is a valuable asset for the Jets. It makes him a more dangerous quarterback and it helps the Jets offense be more unpredictable.
Wilson's rushing ability is still a work in progress. He sometimes takes unnecessary risks when running the ball, and he needs to improve his ball security.

Overall, Wilson's 4 rushing touchdowns in his rookie year were a positive development for the Jets. It showed that he is a versatile quarterback who can make plays with his legs as well as his arm. If Wilson can continue to develop as a runner, he has the potential to be one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL.

6. Wins

In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Zach Wilson led the team to a record of 4-13. While this may not seem like a particularly impressive record, it is important to consider the context of the Jets' situation in 2021.

The Jets were rebuilding. The team had gone 2-14 the previous season, and they had a number of holes in their roster. Wilson was also a rookie quarterback, and he was still learning the NFL game.
The Jets' schedule was tough. They played seven games against teams that finished with a winning record, including the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Wilson showed signs of progress throughout the season. He threw for over 2,300 yards and 9 touchdowns, and he also rushed for 184 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also led the Jets to several close wins, including a Week 16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Overall, Wilson's rookie year was a mixed bag. The Jets did not win many games, but Wilson showed some promise as a quarterback. If he can continue to develop, he could lead the Jets to more success in the future.

FAQs on Zach Wilson's Rookie Year

This section addresses frequently asked questions and clears up common misconceptions surrounding Zach Wilson's rookie year in the NFL.

Question 1: How many passing touchdowns did Zach Wilson throw in his rookie year?

In his rookie year with the New York Jets, Zach Wilson threw for 9 touchdown passes.

Question 2: How many rushing touchdowns did Zach Wilson score in his rookie year?

Wilson rushed for 4 touchdowns in his rookie season.

Question 3: How many interceptions did Zach Wilson throw in his rookie year?

Wilson threw 11 interceptions in his rookie year, which tied him for the 10th most interceptions in the NFL.

Question 4: How many games did the Jets win with Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback in his rookie year?

The Jets won 4 games with Wilson as their starting quarterback in his rookie year.

Question 5: What were some of the challenges that Zach Wilson faced in his rookie year?

Wilson faced several challenges in his rookie year, including a lack of experience, a tough schedule, and a team that was rebuilding.

Summary: Overall, Zach Wilson's rookie year was a mixed bag. He showed some promise as a passer and a runner, but he also made some mistakes. The Jets are hoping that Wilson can learn from his mistakes and improve his decision-making in his second season.

Transition: For more in-depth analysis of Zach Wilson's rookie year, please refer to the following sections:

Conclusion

Zach Wilson's rookie year with the New York Jets was a rollercoaster of emotions. He showed flashes of his potential, but he also made some costly mistakes. Overall, his rookie year was a mixed bag. He showed some promise as a passer and a runner, but he also needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.

The Jets are hoping that Wilson can learn from his mistakes and improve his play in his second season. He has the potential to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, but he needs to be more consistent and make better decisions.