After losing Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1, the New York Jets have finally added another quarterback to their roster. Gang Green has agreed to a deal with free agent signal-caller Trevor Siemian, as ESPN reported on Tuesday. Siemian will join New York’s practice squad, per NFL Network.
New York Jets To Sign QB Trevor Siemian
Jets are planning to add to their QB room: Veteran QB Trevor Siemian is signing with the Jets, pending a physical, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2023
The Jets had not brought in an external quarterback since Rodgers went down, preferring only to insert Zach Wilson into the starting role while promoting Tim Boyle from their practice squad to serve as Wilson’s backup.
New York reportedly began reaching out to the veteran passers soon after Rodgers tore his Achilles. While the Jets were not interested in bringing an accomplished QB like Tom Brady or Philip Rivers out of retirement, they did contact Chad Henne (who rebuffed their interest) and Colt McCoy.
They also expressed interest in Los Angeles Rams backup Brett Rypien, who was soon promoted to L.A.’s active roster. On Sunday, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan had reached out to the Jets, but Ryan — now a CBS broadcaster — shot down that speculation the following day.
Siemian, 31, is a well-traveled passer embarking on his second stint with Gang Green. He inked a one-year deal to become Sam Darnold’s backup in 2019 and started New York’s Week 2 game after Darnold contracted mononucleosis.
MORE: New York Jets Depth Chart 2023
Siemian played only 18 snaps and attempted just eight passes in that contest before tearing multiple ankle ligaments and missing the rest of the season.
Trevor Siemian is 13-17 as a starter, but hasn't won a start since 2017. He has lost his last 6 starts, including one last season for the Bears against the Jets. Started 1 game for the #Jets in 2019, but didn't make it out of the first quarter (ankle).
He has some background in…
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 26, 2023
Siemian, who made 24 starts for the Denver Broncos from 2016-17, has also spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and most recently, the Cincinnati Bengals. He competed with Jake Browning to back Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, but his dreadful preseason performance ultimately led to his release.
Siemian does not profile as the sort of quarterback who could steal Wilson’s starting job, at least not in the near term. If anything, Boyle seems more likely to usurp the former No. 2 overall pick, if only because he’s intimately familiar with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s scheme.
Wilson has completed just 47.6% of his passes for 327 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions over New York’s last two games, both of which were losses. But head coach Robert Saleh has not suggested the Jets will move away from Wilson as their starter any time soon.
“He’s our unquestioned quarterback,” Saleh said of Wilson this week. “As long as he continues to show his preparation, the way he’s been practicing, and even in these games, he’s not the reason why we lost (Sunday).
“It’s always a team effort. As long as he continues to show improvement — I know from a box score standpoint, it’s not showing — he’s going to be our quarterback.”
