NY Jets 'not likely to budge' with Zach Wilson's contract

The NY Jets and Zach Wilson are embroiled in a contract standoff as the rookie quarterback remains unsigned now into the start of training camp.

The Jets held their first practice of the summer on Wednesday and Wilson was the most notable absence — and the only one for contractual reasons.

The two sides remain at odds over offset language in Wilson's contract. And based on recent reports, it seems unlikely that the Jets will budge anytime soon.

SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reported on Wednesday that "the Jets are not likely to budge, since for them it’s a matter of principle and precedent."

If someone is going to budge, it will have to be Wilson's agency.

The NY Jets aren't in a hurry to get Zach Wilson signed.

As Vacchiano explains, the Jets have never given out a contract without offset language — a clause that protects the team from paying a player if he is released and signed by a new team.

Trevor Lawrence didn't have offset language in his contract. Justin Fields didn't receive offset language on any of his guarantees. Wilson and his representatives are looking to strike a similar deal with the Jets.

Only Gang Green isn't budging.

Whether this is an issue of ownership, the front office, or a combination of the two, the Jets don't seem likely to alter their stance. That's evident by the fact that the team is reportedly scheduled to bring in two veteran quarterbacks to work out on Thursday.

The timing of those workouts isn't incidental. Neither Josh Johnson nor Sean Mannion is going to be with the Jets for the long haul. Rather, the team needs an extra body with Wilson still absent.

The fact that the Jets are willing to go out and possibly sign an extra body shows how serious they are about not budging. They've made up their minds and aren't wavering — for better or worse.

The longer this drags on, though, the more it will negatively affect the development of Zach Wilson. And it's not only Wilson who will feel the impact.

The Jets' new-look offense practiced with Mike White and James Morgan on Wednesday. That's not exactly a way to build chemistry with your new rookie quarterback.

This needs to get done now. Frankly, it should have already been done already.

But by the looks of things, this is a saga that may drag on into August. And that's something no one wants to see happen.