In 2021, with Jared Goff injured and then sidelined by COVID-19, the Detroit Lions' "Tim Boyle Experience" was three games and it was three games too many. The New York Jets had their first game with Boyle as their starting quarterback on Friday, as they finally benched Zach Wilson.
On Saturday morning, head coach Robert Saleh told reporters Boyle will start again in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.
"Yeah, we're giving Timmy another shot to roll next week", Saleh said.
The Jets lost to the Miami Dolphins 34-13 on Black Friday, as Boyle went 27-for-38 for 179 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He posted a 67.8 passer rating, a 4.6 QBR and was sacked seven times. Prior to the fourth quarter, as the Jets had run just 22 offensive plays through three quarters, Boyle was 8-for-12 for 43 yards with an interception.
"For the most part, I felt like I saw it well and I got the ball out of my hands," Boyle said after the game. "I tried not to take sacks, but it's part of the game."
The Jets lack better options, so they'll just go back to the Tim Boyle well
Wilson has surely played his last snap for the Jets, barring an injury-forced circumstance to play him again this season. Trevor Siemian was signed from the practice squad to be Boyle's backup, and if there's a current dictionary definition of a backup quarterback you'd rather not have to play (other than Boyle), he'd be it. Of course there's the specter of Aaron Rodgers' possible return from a torn Achilles, But the Jets at 4-7 now, so what's the point of him playing this season?
So for the Jets, barring an injury, it just might be Boyle under center from here on out as a season that started with so much promise winds down to likely yield double-digit losses.
A restricted offense, as the Jets only had one pass over 10 air yards on Friday until the fourth quarter, might be even more restricted by Boyle, who last had a positive touchdown-to-interception ratio in high school. But it's the hand the Jets dealt themselves by going all-in for Rodgers, and going with Boyle until further notice stands as a referendum on Wilson more than anything.
Meanwhile, the Lions and Lions' fans can be glad Boyle is no longer Goff's backup, with an added layer involving Rodgers' injury for those fans who want to go that direction with a hated former Packer.