The Jets have shut down quarterback Zach Wilson for Thursday’s game against the Browns in Cleveland, saying he hasn’t cleared concussion protocol, and it’s fair to wonder whether the team’s No. 2 overall draft pick three years ago has played his final game in Jets green.
Wilson was knocked out of the Jets’ blowout road loss to the Dolphins two games ago with a concussion and missed Sunday’s win in Washington.
When Jets head coach Robert Saleh was asked Tuesday if Wilson has a chance to return for the season finale at New England, he didn’t exactly sound positive about that.
“We’ll see,’’ Saleh said. “The most important thing is for him to get rid of all these symptoms and him progressing, that’s first and foremost, obviously.’’
In Wilson’s absence, Trevor Siemian will start his second consecutive game.
“When it was good, it was good,’’ Siemian said Tuesday of the offensive performance against the Commanders. “Like everyone else, we’re just trying to find that consistency and stay in that flow, and if we do that, we have a chance.’’
The Browns’ defense is ranked No. 1 in the NFL.
“Across the board, the front’s great, well-versed in the run, well-versed in the pass, and sticky in the back end,’’ Siemian said. “They play their scheme really well, really well-coached obviously, and it’s a great challenge for us.’’
Saleh was not exactly effusive about Siemian’s performance against Washington — 217 yards passing on 49 attempts, saying, “Yeah, Trevor did some nice things in the game. He’s got so much play time under his belt that it was great just to have a conversation with him and his recognition that he could have even done better.’’
Of more than mild concern, kicker Greg Zeurlein, the hero of Sunday’s 30-28 win over Washington, has a quadriceps injury, according to Saleh and didn’t kick in Tuesday’s walk-through session.
“He came out of the game with some right quad soreness, so we’ll see how it turns out today,’’ Saleh said.
Asked if the team needs to sign another kicker, Saleh said, “I’ll talk with Joe (Douglas, the GM) about it. We’ll see how today goes.’’
Zeurlein, whose 54-yarder with two seconds remaining gave the Jets the win, has had a magnificent season, making 30 of his 31 field goal attempts.
In other injury news, Saleh also said the plan was to put tackle Duane Brown “through some work’’ Tuesday with his ailing back. Brown told The Post after the walk-through: “We’ll have to see [Wednesday]. I did a little bit more [Tuesday] and [Wednesday] we’ll do some more before jumping on the flight.’’
Tight end Jeremy Ruckert, who’s also in concussion protocol, like Wilson has not been cleared and won’t play.
Saleh made it sound like rookie running back Izzy Abanikanda will continue to get more looks this week after rushing a career-high nine times for 43 yards in the win over Washington.
“Oh, he’s got juice, man,’’ Saleh said. “I don’t want to call it fresh legs because that would be doing him a disservice, but we know from training camp and just overall draft process.
“His GPS speeds hang around for 4.3, 4.2, so he’s got all the same juice as a guy like Breece [Hall]. I thought he did a really nice job.’’
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