New York Jets' Zach Wilson reflects on his disastrous 'four interceptions' game

If Zach Wilson wasn't facing pressure to deliver before, he certainly is now. Fortunately, he's OK with that.

Zach Wilson takes stock

During the last week New York Jets QB Zach Wilson would surely have had a lot to reflect on. After a game in which he threw four interceptions, the rookie was critiqued - constructively - by his new head coach Robert Saleh, who stated that he would prefer that the talented quarter back occasionally adopt a more "boring" approach to the game.

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As the second pick overall in the draft, Wilson came into the NFL with a reputation for making unexpected plays, indeed it was on that basis that he was selected by New York. It may seem a contradiction that he be asked to adopt a more conservative approach, yet he understands and is taking it in stride. "I don't think it's necessarily challenging, it's just being smart with the ball and understanding those situations in games like that," Wilson said Thursday. "There weren't check downs on some of those interceptions, right? It's not just, hey, check the ball down. It's being smart with the ball. How can you throw it away or get rid of it? That's what I'm applying for this next week."

The game that wasn't: Zach Wilson on those 4 interceptions

Wilson threw four interceptions within his first 10 tries as the Jets lost 25-6 to the New England Patriots. In doing so he became the first Jets player in 40 years to manage the feat. An accolade he could do without no doubt. None the less Wilson continues to show maturity as he acclimatizes to the NFL. While known for his dynamism, he must now seek to find an equilibrium between going big and adapting on the fly.

"I haven't thrown four picks ever in my life in a game," he said. "Obviously, I have to clean that up and take care of that. It's being able to fight through that adversity every single week and how I can keep getting better and better. I knew it was going to be challenging coming here, and I knew there were things I'd have to adjust and keep getting better at. And that's part of it."

Broncos' Lawrence also baptized in fire

While Wilson faced immense backlash, fellow rookie and no. 1 overall pick QB Trevor Lawrence fared no better against the Broncos last week, as his Jacksonville Jaguars were taken apart. Lawrence himself was limited to 118 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Wilson saw it as an opportunity to learn ahead of his own showdown with Denver. "I'm hoping to learn from things he saw and ... what he went through, and how I can learn from those right now before we go into that game," he said. Wilson, meanwhile, was also questioned on his groin which seemed to have been "tweaked" in New York's opener.

"I'm ready to play," he said. "It's not even bothering me."