While veteran quarterback Matt Ryan is open to returning to the NFL, he has no interest in suiting up for the flailing New York Jets.
“I’m really enjoying what I’m doing,” said Ryan, who works for CBS Sports as a studio and game analyst this season. “(My agent) wouldn’t be doing his job if he wasn’t looking into certain situations. He and I talked, and I got no interest in doing that right now.”
"I got no interest in doing that right now."
Our very own @m_ryan02 sets the record straight on his interest in being the next QB of the New York Jets pic.twitter.com/wtuOIn7rqY
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 25, 2023
Ryan, 38, has not retired from the NFL and is still available to return to the league. The Indianapolis Colts released him in March after a rocky 2022 season that saw Ryan get benched and then reinserted in the starting lineup three weeks later. The Colts went 4-12 last season while being stuck on a veteran quarterback merry-go-round ever since Andrew Luck abruptly retired before the 2019 season.
Advertisement
The Jets, meanwhile, are stuck with Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback after signing Aaron Rodgers this offseason and then losing him to a torn Achilles in the first game of the season.
Wilson, 24, has 467 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions with a 52.4 completion percentage.
Robert Saleh said Zach Wilson "is our unquestioned quarterback".
"He is not the reason why we lost yesterday."
Said they're looking for him to continue showing improvement and if he does, he will remain their QB. #jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 25, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What’s the Jets’ plan?
It’s unclear how much interest the Jets had in Ryan — if any — but this certainly does remove a viable upgrade option for an offense desperate for better quarterback play. Even Ryan at this stage of his career and decline would be viewed as a significant upgrade over Wilson, who statistically has been the worst quarterback in the NFL through three games by most statistics. He’s last in completion percentage and passer rating, and the Jets have the worst passing attack in the league.
Jets coach Robert Saleh’s claim that Wilson gives the Jets the best chance to win right now might technically be accurate if you only factor in who is on the roster — the other option is Tim Boyle, who has thrown three touchdowns and eight interceptions in 17 career games. But that’s not an excuse for the Jets to not sign anyone else, which they should’ve done already. — Rosenblatt
Other options at QB
If Ryan is off the table, the next most realistic options in free agency are probably Carson Wentz and Colt McCoy. Wentz has been a controversial figure in the NFL but even in his worst seasons his numbers would provide a significant upgrade over Wilson. For the Commanders last year, Wentz threw for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 62.3 completion percentage. It’s hard to ignore though that Wentz has been run out of town by three franchises (Eagles, Colts, Commanders) that gave up a lot of draft capital to get him.
McCoy is coming off an injury and isn’t the most exciting option but he’s a solid veteran quarterback who would be able to learn the offense quickly enough to play in place of Wilson soon. — Rosenblatt