Former NFL quarterback Matt Cassel thinks the New York Jets should immediately bench Zach Wilson in favor of Joe Flacco. 

“At this point right now Joe Flacco is the better quarterback,” Cassel told The 33rd Team after Wilson tossed three interceptions in Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the New England Patriots that dropped the Jets to 5-3 on the season, per Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “It just comes down to experience, decision making, how he throws the ball, he’ll take care of the football and he won’t put his team in a really bad adverse situation. You don’t see those type of picks [that Wilson threw] in the NFL.”

Flacco, the Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player, filled in earlier this season when Wilson was injured but lost two of three starts. Meanwhile, ESPN stats show that Wilson began Monday 34th among eligible quarterbacks with a 71.0 passer rating, 24th with a 41.8 total QBR, and 34th with a 54.9% completion percentage on the campaign. In five games, the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft has just three touchdown passes to go along with five interceptions. 

As Andy Vasquez noted for NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Jets head coach Robert Saleh has demoted Flacco to third on the team’s depth chart behind fellow backup option Mike White. Vasquez suggested the Jets may be trying to shop Flacco to a willing buyer before Tuesday’s trade deadline. 

Wilson and the Jets will look to turn things around when they host the 6-1 Buffalo Bills this coming Sunday. Whether or not Flacco will be associated with Gang Green during the first weekend of November remains to be seen.