Although the New York Jets are in last place in the AFC East, their 6-4 record has them just one game behind the leaders, Miami Dolphins (7-3), so they still have a good chance to win it and qualify for the Playoffs.

That is why coach Robert Saleh is not willing to risk the rest of the season and much less to accept unprofessional behavior from his players, such as that of QB Zach Wilson, who after Sunday's game against New England, commented that he did not believe that the offense had let the defense down.

Saleh no longer tolerates Wilson's poor performance

Against the Pats, Wilson had just 9 completions out of 22 attempts for 77 yards, which played a role in the 10-3 loss. His comments in the locker room caused irritation on the team, according to Saleh, who decided to bench him and start Mike White against the Bears in Week 12.

"It's deserved. I have to work on being a better leader for this team," Wilson said of the decision to bench him.

"It's tough, but it's deserved. The way I handled the situation was not the right way. I have to be a better football player, and then I have to be a better leader for these guys," he added.

Wilson initiated the discussions with his teammates

Wilson clarified that in the locker room no one confronted him, but rather he was the one who started complaining to his teammates. "It was a situation I knew I had to bring up to them. The way I handled it wasn't right," he accepted.

Speaking to NFL Network, he added that he is not surprised to have been benched, as he has not been doing his job. In the seven games he has started, Wilson led the Jets to a 5-2 record, but his problems generating points in recent weeks are what led the head coach to change the starting QB.