Jets QB Zach Wilson? Peyton Manning admits he doesn’t know much

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season not only marked Aaron Rodgers’ regular-season New York Jets debut, but it also was the start of another season of ESPN’s “Manningcast.”

And on Monday, when Rodgers suffered an ankle injury before he threw his first pass, Hall of Famer Peyton Manning admitted a little something about backup QB Zach Wilson, who was the Jets’ No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft.

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“I got nothing for you if Rodgers doesn’t play,” Peyton said. “All my studying was on Rodgers play. I was watching Packers film, I watched Cal film to get used to the jersey (No. 8) number. I have nothing.”

Tongue in cheek? Who knows, but Peyton certainly knows a thing or two about quarterbacks, so he should be able to analyze on the fly when he’s not interviewing fellow celebrities.

“Were you not watching the preseason? Eli asked. “You didn’t watch all three preseason games — and watch Zach Wilson play the whole time? What were you doing?”

Rodgers, a future Hall of Fame QB in his own right, lasted four plays in his historic debut.

When Rodgers was shown being carted off minutes later, Peyton responded like most of the NFL universe: “Holy cow … I cannot believe this,” he exclaimed. “I thought it was just an ankle — thought we’d tape it up and get back in there. C’mon”

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Jimmy Hascup may be reached at jhascup@njadvancemedia.com.