Zach Wilson injury update is best-case scenario for the NY Jets

The NY Jets feared the worst when Zach Wilson exited Friday's preseason game early with a non-contact knee injury. That fear was amplified by initial speculation that Wilson had indeed suffered a torn ACL.

For hours, Jets fans speculated as to the severity of Wilson's injury, only for head coach Robert Saleh to provide a glimmer of hope after the game when he revealed that Wilson's ACL was intact.

Reports later indicated that Wilson had potentially re-injured his PCL, the same injury that sidelined him for a few weeks last season. However, all of this was just speculation until the Jets received an official diagnosis from the MRI results.

Those results came in Saturday morning, and they could not have been more encouraging for both Wilson and the Jets. The second-year QB has reportedly suffered a bone bruise and a partial meniscus tear, per multiple reports.

Notably, Wilson did not sustain any ligament damage and the meniscus injury is only a partial tear. As a result, an initial timetable for Wilson's return has been set at 2-4 weeks. There's still a chance he's able to suit up for the team's Week 1 matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

All things considered, it's hard to have imagined a more encouraging outlook for Wilson and the Jets.

The NY Jets breath a sigh of relief after the latest Zach Wilson injury update

Wilson was forced to exit Friday's preseason game in the first quarter after he injured his knee scrambling on a 1st-and-10 play. Given the nature of the injury, many immediately feared that Wilson could have suffered a serious, potentially season-ending injury.

Now, if all goes according to plan, the Jets might even have Wilson back in time for Week 1. If Wilson can't go, the Jets will lean on veteran Joe Flacco to face his former team at MetLife Stadium.

The Jets feel very comfortable with Flacco starting, although they're certainly breathing a sigh of relief that their young QB won't be forced to miss significant time.

Wilson is still seeking a second opinion about his knee which will determine the timetable for his surgery and, in turn, the timetable for his return. In theory, the Jets aren't in the clear just yet, but it's hard not to feel optimistic given these recent updates.

All things considered, this is the best-case scenario for the Jets. Not only did Wilson not sustain any ligament damage, but his minor meniscus tear will only require non-invasive surgery and might not even force him to miss any regular-season games.

The Jets certainly feel as though they dodged a bullet with Zach Wilson's knee injury.