Micah Parsons defends Zach Wilson, says comparisons to Aaron Rodgers are unfair
Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons is now making headlines weekly not only because of his play on Sundays but also thanks to his new show, The Edge. The former Penn State star shares his hot takes on the league’s big stories, which, unfortunately for the Jets this week, is Zach Wilson‘s handling of the New York offense.
Having faced Wilson in Week 2, racking up two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, Parsons defended the young former first-rounder. He didn’t say he necessarily believes in Wilson as the team’s starting quarterback for the long term, but he thinks it’s unfair for NFL fans to compare him to four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers.
“Quarterback is one of the hardest positions in the NFL and you expect a third-year guy, who got benched last year and say, ‘Hey, we’re gonna take Aaron Rodgers,’” Parsons said. “His focus might’ve been there. We don’t know what his focus is, his mental is like when the whole trade happened, how guys treated him. And a lot goes into how much you want to give to this team.
“His team needs to give back to him, they need to pour into him so he can be the guy they want him to be.”
Wilson is off to a 1-2 start this season after stepping in for Rodgers after the veteran suffered an Achilles tear. He is 44-for-84 passing for 467 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s in year three of his four-year, $35 million rookie deal, which includes a fifth-year option for the Jets, if they choose to keep him around.
Parsons sympathizes with Daniel Jones after Week 1
Parsons’ backing of Wilson isn’t the first time he’s supported an opposing quarterback this season. He did the same thing after the Cowboys defense crushed Giants quarterback Daniel Jones with a seven-sack, two-interception assault. Despite his team’s dominance over the QB, he offered a sympathetic take on The Edge after Week 1.
“Daniel Jones is not a bad quarterback,” Parsons said. “I know, I know, I know. Some of you may think that he’s a bad quarterback and why re-sign him? You have to remember, Daniel Jones just went against top-3 defensive teams in the league.
“They’re still learning to gel together. He’s still learning to be the guy. It’s only his second year with (head coach) Brian Daboll, so he gets grace. I think nowadays we don’t give the same grace as we do with guys like Peyton Manning when they came into the league.”