Jets’ Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur on Zach Wilson: ‘He’s handling it the best he can’

It’s never easy when someone is demoted. It’s even worse when that demotion plays out in the public eye.

That’s what Zach Wilson has endured the last couple of weeks after Jets coach Robert Saleh named Mike White the team’s starting quarterback. Not only that, Wilson was relegated to third-string status as Joe Flacco is now the team’s backup quarterback.

“He’s handling it the best he can in terms of he’s approaching every single day just trying to get better, and that was really no different last year when he was injured going through those four weeks trying to rehab, and then obviously the three weeks leading into the regular season, plus the preseason,” Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said.

[ Jets should continue to ride the Mike White train until it falls off the track ]

“That’s just Zach’s approach. Zach’s approach is to try to get better every single day, and that’s what he’s doing. You can see the improvements every single day, and that’s just something that we got to trust with our process with him.

“I’m not going to get into the details of what we’re working on him with. Again, he’s working with the scout team, and I think that’s a great opportunity to get back to the base fundamentals.”

Despite White starting, Saleh has continued to say that the team is giving Wilson a reset and their plan is to have him return to the field eventually. But if White plays well once again this week, the chances of Wilson starting under center again could be slim.

The Jets are in the mix of a playoff race, as at 7-4, the team would qualify for the postseason if it started today. Gang Green sits at the seventh seed with six games to go in the season.

Even after Wilson sat for seven weeks after injuring his meniscus in the preseason, his performance was subpar in seven games. He threw for 1,279 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 55.6% of his passes.

The Jets are looking for stability from the quarterback position and White certainly gave them that against the Bears. When asked about White potentially being the long-term solution for the Jets, LaFleur declined to answer.

“That’s nothing in my thought process,” LaFleur said. “You would have to ask [Robert] Saleh. I can’t imagine that’s anything in his thought process right now.

“We honestly just trying to get better and beat the Vikings right now and that’s where our thoughts are and who is going to give us the best chance to get that done.”

Tyler Conklin spent four seasons with the Vikings organization after he was selected by the team in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

But after signing with the Jets last offseason, Conklin will find himself on the opposing sideline when the team visits U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

“It’s going to be really weird,” Conklin said. U.S. Bank is an awesome stadium, they do a great job with pre-game productions, it’s awesome, the fans are awesome, it’s going to be loud as heck in there, but I’m excited.

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“It’s a great place to win. When you go to an environment like that — that’s loud and has a great fan base — the best way to handle the noise is to dominate the game. We can control the noise by dominating and doing what we do.”

Conklin has been a pivotal addition to the Jets roster this season, as he is second on the team in receptions (38) and receiving yards (381). He also has three touchdowns, second to only wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

Conklin is from the midwest, as he was born and raised in Michigan and played his college ball at Central Michigan. During his first three years in Minnesota, Conklin’s stats didn’t stand out. However, in his final year with the Vikings, Conklin finally showed his potential.

[ Robert Saleh on facing Vikings, Jefferson: ‘It’s another challenge for us’ ]

Last season, Conklin caught 61 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns. He parlayed that into a three-year, $21 million contract with the Jets.

Conklin said he has been talking to some of his former teammates and he already has plans for right tackle Brian O’Neill and him to exchange jerseys after the game.

“I still talk to a good amount of the guys, but I try to treat every week the same,” Conklin said. “I don’t start talking too much trash unless it happens in the heat of the moment and someone really pisses me off.

“I’ve been talking to a lot of the guys but not too much trash talk.”