The New York Jets waived Tim Boyle after two starts and signed Brett Rypien off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad Tuesday in the team’s latest shuffle at the quarterback position.
Boyle mostly struggled while replacing the benched Zach Wilson the past two games. He was 41 of 63 for 327 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions — including a Hail Mary that was returned 99 yards for a touchdown against Miami — in two losses as the starter.
The Jets (4-8) are mired in a five-game losing streak and their offense has been unable to consistently produce with Aaron Rodgers sidelined since tearing his left Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut with New York in the season opener.
On Monday, coach Robert Saleh said he wasn’t ready to announce a starting quarterback for the Jets’ game Sunday against Houston.
Boyle was unlikely to get the start, leaving Wilson and veteran Trevor Siemian as the options. The Athletic reported Monday according to sources that Wilson showed some reluctance to starting after doing so for the nine games after Rodgers was hurt. Saleh dismissed the report, saying Wilson came to his office to tell him he wanted to start.
“Well, let’s be clear: If he was reluctant to play, guys, he wouldn’t be here,” the coach said Monday before adding: “The young man wants the ball. He wants to start. He believes he’s the best quarterback in the room and best quarterback for this team and the guy who gives us the best chance to win.”
Still, Saleh was uncertain how the team would go forward at quarterback.
Rodgers defended Wilson during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, and scolded the team for allowing information to leak from private conversations.
“That’s a problem with the organization,” Rodgers said. “We need to get to the bottom of whatever this is coming from and put a stop to it privately because there’s no place in a winning culture, and this isn’t the only time. There’s been a bunch of other leaks.”
Rodgers was particularly disappointed with the perception of Wilson from the report that “this kid is quitting on the team and doesn’t want to play and has given the middle finger to the organization.”
The four-time NFL MVP said he didn’t want to speak for Wilson, whom he thought would get a chance to talk to the team this week.
“I love the kid and I’ve spent a lot of time with him and I think he’s an amazing young man,” Rodgers said of Wilson. “He’s gone through a lot of (stuff) in the last three years and he’s got every right to be frustrated and disappointed about it. I think he’s done a good job of standing up and taking accountability this year when it’s been his part to do it.”
Bringing in Rypien adds another twist to the Jets’ quarterback situation.
The 27-year-old nephew of Super Bowl 26 MVP Mark Rypien has played in 10 NFL games, including four starts, since signing with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State in 2019. He is 98 of 168 for 950 yards and four TDs with nine INTs in his career.
Rypien has some familiarity with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was the coach of the Broncos when the quarterback was there last season. Rypien was among Denver’s final cuts this summer and signed with the Los Angeles Rams.
The Jets were interested in bringing in Rypien in September after Rodgers was hurt, but the Rams promoted him to the active roster from the practice squad. He started one game for Los Angeles, going 13 of 28 for 130 yards and an interception in a 20-3 loss to Green Bay on Nov. 5.
He was later cut and signed to Seattle’s practice squad last month.
Meanwhile, the Jets will see how Rodgers progresses during the next few weeks as he continues to make a remarkably fast recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. The 40-year-old quarterback said last week he was planning to increase his activity this week after being cleared last week to rejoin practice.
Rodgers needs to be cleared by doctors to play and he has his sights set on returning for the Jets’ home game against Washington on Dec. 24. But he has also repeatedly said New York needs to remain in the playoff hunt — a scenario that’s becoming increasingly less likely.
“This has been a (bad) season, for sure,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “But we will be back.”
NOTES: The Jets re-signed OL Xavier Newman to the practice squad. … DL Tanzel Smart was placed on the practice squad injured reserve list.