New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2), second from proper, throws on the NFL soccer crew’s coaching facility in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. How huge of roll will the previous BYU star play within the upcoming HBO “Arduous Knocks” collection? Viewers might get an thought from the season premiere Wednesday. Seth Wenig, Related Press
When the New York Jets report for coaching camp on Wednesday, HBO’s “Arduous Knocks” will likely be proper there.
The NFL formally introduced Monday the Jets group has been chosen to be this yr’s topic for the favored HBO collection, a growth the Deseret Information reported final week.
The primary one-hour episode will air Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 8 p.m. MDT on HBO and will likely be out there on Max. There will likely be 4 further episodes, all airing on the similar time on Tuesdays, main as much as the season finale on Sept. 5.
A number of information retailers consider one of many crew’s most polarizing figures — and a family title quarterback — could possibly be within the highlight through the collection.
No, not four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers.
As an alternative, it’s embattled backup quarterback Zach Wilson, the No. 2 general choose within the 2021 NFL draft who struggled mightily in his first two NFL seasons.
Sportscaster Dan Patrick recommended that Wilson needs to be the main focus of the collection.
“With Aaron Rodgers, I don’t know if he desires the publicity,” Patrick stated throughout a latest taping of the “The Dan Patrick Present.” “I feel he likes publicity, however he likes it when he likes it, when he desires it. If you need it, then perhaps he’s not as accommodating.”
The Jets traded for the 10-time Professional Bowler Rodgers this offseason, a transfer made after poor quarterback play plagued the crew final season as New York dropped its ultimate six video games of the 2022 season after a promising begin to the yr.
Patrick recommended the present ought to as a substitute be centered round Wilson, for a wide range of causes.
“I feel Zach Wilson needs to be the focus of the Jets with ‘Arduous Knocks.’ As a result of OK, now you’ve taken away the marquee guys, the starters and you may give attention to an fascinating story of No. 2 general choose, bought humbled, bought benched, now impulsively, he’s watching Aaron Rodgers, studying from Aaron Rodgers. Is Aaron Rodgers going to assist him?” Patrick requested.
“That will be fascinating.”
Justin Fried of The Jet Press agreed that the Wilson storyline needs to be a featured facet of this yr’s “Arduous Knocks” present. Wilson, the previous BYU and Nook Canyon Excessive quarterback, is predicted to get ample time to shine in preseason video games with the veteran Rodgers resting to keep away from harm.
“The NFL Movies crew will little question spotlight the truth that Wilson will now be serving as the first backup to his mentor, Aaron Rodgers. Put together for loads of Rodgers/Wilson content material this summer time,” Fried wrote.
“... Wilson has stated all the appropriate issues this offseason. He’s been humble and expressed a want to bounce again following a disastrous first two years within the NFL. That angle ought to serve him properly as he hopes to be portrayed in a optimistic mild to a nationwide viewers.”
Wilson has expressed appreciation for the brief time he’s already needed to work alongside Rodgers.
“I’m very appreciative of him and the way a lot he's prepared to assist me as a result of he actually doesn’t have to be that vocal. He actually really is an incredible good friend, and clearly such an incredible quarterback, so I'm studying loads of soccer,” Wilson informed reporters in June, per NFL.com.
One other Jets-centric information group, Jets X-Issue, recommended that Wilson shouldn’t be a significant function through the present, although. That’s given the struggles the younger quarterback has had, resulting in his benching after being deemed the franchise quarterback simply two years in the past.
“Don’t consider any of the hype which may come out about Wilson in coaching camp. To start with, he’s usually seemed good previously with out a go rush,” Jets X-Issue’s Rivka Boord wrote. “Second, even media studies claiming that he made a ‘nice’ throw virtually all the time ignore his horrible mechanics and shoddy accuracy on that specific toss.
“... The Arduous Knocks cameras are virtually sure to hype up the Rodgers/Wilson narrative. Don’t consider any of it. It’s a made-for-TV story of the usurped draft choose, however Wilson is caught in New York, and he is aware of it.”