Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner did not intend to like the tweet that criticized his quarterback, Zach Wilson.
Sunday against the Patriots, the Jets’ defense fared admirably, keeping New England to three points before a punt return score late in the fourth quarter. Wilson completed nine of his 22 pass attempts for a total of 77 yards on the offensive side of the ball.
Wilson was asked in a postgame news conference if he thought he had let down the defense, to which the former second-overall selection said, “No.”
Shortly after the incident, Gardner, the odds-on favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, liked a tweet in which Wilson was criticized for nearly throwing an interception as Jets tight end Tyler Conklin was wide open.
The tweet in question said, “You are not responsible for your defense????”
As screengrabs featuring Gardner’s likeness went viral on Monday, the fourth overall selection from this year confirmed on Twitter that any endorsement of the statement was false.
“I promise I didn’t mean to like this tweet. I was just made aware when you began tagging me. We’re going to be honest!” Gardner tweeted.
The defensive back said, “If I had intended to like it, I wouldn’t have said anything. I frequently incorrectly like tweets on this platform, but y’all caught this one. You guys are [laughing emojis] poisonous.”
Sauce Gardner denied knowingly favoriting a tweet that criticized Jets quarterback Zach Wilson.
Getty Pictures
On Sunday, Zach Wilson passed for 77 yards as the Jets fell to the Patriots.
Getty Pictures
Since then, Gardner has disliked the tweet.
Assuming Wilson retains the starter over Mike White next Sunday, he faces a Bears defense that has allowed an average of nearly 35 points per game over the last four weeks, 142 points.
Wilson has passed for 1,279 yards, four touchdowns, and five interceptions through seven games this season.