Jets bench Zach Wilson for Tim Boyle vs. Dolphins: source

Tim Boyle replaced Zach Wilson during the third quarter of the Bills 32-6 drubbing of the Jets on Sunday.

Now, Boyle will get his first start of the season on a short week.

Sources told the Daily News that Boyle will start Friday’s game against the Dolphins. It is unknown if Wilson will be the Jets backup quarterback or be inactive.

Jets coach Robert Saleh replaced Wilson with 2:17 left in the third quarter against the Bills after he completed 7 of 15 passes for 81 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Boyle didn’t perform any better after replacing Wilson. He finished 7 of 14 for 33 yards and an interception.

“I thought Tim came in, he was decisive and got rid of the ball. He did a good job,” Saleh said after Sunday’s game. “The fourth down throws at the end of the game was a bit of a force, just trying to get the ball out of his hands to give someone a chance being fourth down. He did some good things.

Throughout the ups and downs of the 2023 season, Saleh has been committed to Wilson after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tear in Week 1 against Buffalo. However, Sunday finally was the breaking point for him and the Jets.

Since replacing Rodgers, Wilson has thrown for 1,944 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He is tied for 32nd in the NFL in completion percentage (59.2%) and ranks 30th in Total Quarterback Rating (30.8).

The Jets offense ranks 30th in yards per game (170.5) and points per game (15). Gang Green is also on a pace to have the lowest third-down conversion rate in NFL history (22.9%).

Gang Green has just nine touchdowns in 10 games, which is the worst in the league. To put that in perspective, the Dolphins scored 10 touchdowns in their 70-20 Week 3 route of the Broncos.

Boyle signed with the Jets in April and was supposed to be their third-string quarterback. But he was moved to backup when Rodgers tore his Achilles four plays into the season.

Friday will mark the fourth career start for Boyle. In 2021, he started three games for the Lions in place of an injured Jared Goff. That season, Boyle finished with 526 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. In five NFL seasons, Boyle has thrown for 607 yards, three touchdowns and nine interceptions for the Packers, Lions, Bears, and Jets.

Gang Green’s defense has been among the best units in the NFL. Through 10 games, the Jets entered Sunday’s game against the Bills sixth in total defense (307.8) and seventh in points allowed (19.1).

However, the Jets defense allowed 32 points and a season-high 393 yards. Those numbers reflect somewhat on the offense, however, as the Jets have been unable to stay on the field and score touchdowns, which typically wears a defense down.

The Jets have done a great job fighting through all the adversity of their poor offense. However, they weren’t able to overcome it against the Bills. Now the Jets rank 11th in total defense (316.3) and points allowed (20.4).

It remains to be seen whether Boyle can perform better than Wilson. However, at 4-6 and 14th in the AFC standings, the Jets’ season is on the line in a critical matchup against a 7-3 Dolphins team leading the AFC East.

“We got to get going on offense,” Boyle said on Sunday. “Our defense is playing absolutely incredible. Special teams, it’s awesome. They got that conversion for us on fourth down with the fake punt.

“We just got to hold up our end of the bargain. There’s no magic pill. We just got to go out there and execute and communicate.”