NY Jets are not concerned about Zach Wilson’s shoulder

The NY Jets are preparing to usher in a new era this offseason, with many expecting that new era to be captained by former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

Rumors surrounding the Jets’ interest in Wilson have swirled all offseason, and after the decision to trade Sam Darnold earlier in the week, it seems to be a near-consensus that Wilson will be the pick at No. 2.

Wilson is one of the most exciting quarterback prospects in this year’s class, but there have been some concerns about his durability given that he had shoulder surgery back in 2019.

The Jets don’t seem to be concerned at all, however, according to a recent report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The NY Jets are not concerned about Zach Wilson’s shoulder injury

Rapoport reported on Thursday that the Jets have “zero issues about Wilson’s shoulder” based on information they’ve received from various trusted medical sources.

For that reason, they didn’t have to wait for him to receive his official physical in Indianapolis before dealing Darnold away. They already know who they want, and they don’t appear to have any concerns about his injury history.

Wilson suffered a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in high school, but it wasn’t until after his freshman year at BYU that he underwent surgery to repair it.

That surgery would ultimately hinder his 2019 season, as did a fractured thumb that forced him to miss three games. But he returned in 2020, was completely healthy, and established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

As expected, teams have been doing their own research on Wilson to determine if his prior shoulder injury puts him at risk for future issues down the line. The consensus seems to be that it doesn’t.

Wilson’s slight frame has also caused some to pause as at 6-foot-2, 214 pounds, Wilson doesn’t have the ideal body type you look for in an NFL quarterback.

None of this is to say that he can’t and won’t be successful, of course. Dozens of quarterbacks have found great success in the NFL with less-than-stellar body types — someone like Drew Brees comes to mind.

The Jets, and most of the NFL for that matter, don’t seem to be concerned about Wilson’s injury history. Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly surveyed 23 NFL teams this past week and asked them how they rank the top-five quarterbacks in this class.

All 23 teams had Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 and Wilson at No. 2. Evidently, the NFL isn’t too concerned with Wilson’s shoulder either.

The tape checks out. The medicals check out. Expect Zach Wilson to be the pick at No. 2 overall.