New York Jets to start Zach Wilson vs. Texans 2 weeks after he was demoted to third string

The quarterback carousel keeps spinning for the New York Jets, though — this time — coach Robert Saleh is going back to a familiar face.

Saleh announced Wednesday that Zach Wilson will start Sunday against the Houston Texans, a reversal from two weeks ago when he benched Wilson and demoted him to the third string.

"Zach gives us our best chance to win," Saleh said Wednesday. "And we're giving him another opportunity to go prove that. ... He was good. He was fired up. Like I said on Monday, he came into my office and wants the ball and he's excited about getting this opportunity to finish this."

The move comes after a report from The Athletic said Wilson was "reluctant" to take back the starting job after he had been benched; on Monday, Saleh denied that report.

Wilson had been named New York's starter after Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles tendon tear on Sept. 11 in the team's season-opening victory over the Buffalo Bills. While New York (4-8) treaded water in the early half of the season, its offense has cratered in recent weeks. The Jets have scored just three offensive touchdowns since Week 8 and are averaging just 9.7 points per game over their last six.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Those struggles prompted Saleh to bench Wilson ahead of a Week 12 game against the Miami Dolphins — a start that backup Tim Boyle made. New York lost that game and named Boyle the starter for Sunday's contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Boyle struggled, was benched midway through the game for Trevor Siemian and was released Tuesday. In a corresponding move Tuesday, the Jets signed Brett Rypien off the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks.

The Jets had been hoping to remain in contention, as Rodgers moved through his recovery with the aim of an accelerated return to the field. New York, however, is currently the No. 14 seed in the AFC.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Wilson, 24, has failed to live up to expectations since arriving in New York. In nine games this season, Wilson has completed 59.2% of his passes for 1,944 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions.