Jets’ Steve Wilks isn’t buying Baker Mayfield’s Panthers grievance

Steve Wilks insists that Baker Mayfield’s beef with him is misguided.

The Buccaneers quarterback said following Sunday’s last-second 29-27 win over the Jets that defeating Wilks was “personal” because he believed the Jets’ first-year defensive coordinator was “the one that cut me in Carolina” in 2022.

Not so, said Wilks, who had replaced Matt Rhule on an interim basis in October of that season after the Panthers had opened with a 1-4 record. 

“I don’t really think an interim coach has much authority over personnel,” Wilks said before Jets practice Friday in Florham Park. “If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey.”

Mayfield, the No.1 overall pick by the Browns in 2018, had been acquired by Carolina in a trade before the 2022 season. He appeared in only seven games for the Panthers, going 1-5 in six starts.

His request for a release was granted by the Panthers in December, and he finished the season with the Rams before signing the next season and resurrecting his career with Tampa Bay.

Ten days after Rhule was fired on Oct. 10, McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers for multiple draft picks.

“A lot of respect for Baker, tremendous football player, and he’s doing a hell of a job with those guys down there [in Tampa],” Wilks said. “Nothing really much to say beyond that.”

Wilks’ defense has had its moments over the first three games, but the Jets have dropped all three, including a drive for the game-winning field goal Sunday in the final 1:49 after the Jets had taken a lead on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Will McDonald IV.

Wilks said the emphasis ahead of Monday night’s game against the Dolphins is clear.

“One of the things we have to do defensively — as you’ve seen we’ve done a lot of great things throughout these first three weeks — but we gotta find a way to finish,” Wilks said. “That’s the key thing for us on defense.

“One touchdown, holding those guys to five field goals, it doesn’t really mean anything when you can’t finish in the end. That’s where we are right now, and that’s our challenge this week.”

The Jets, who will be without starting linebacker Quincy Williams (shoulder) for at least the next four weeks, rank 22nd in yards allowed per game (340.3) during their winless start.

“There’s a lot that goes into play, and that starts with me,” Wilks said. “Putting guys in position to be successful, and then most importantly, just making the plays when given the opportunity.

“I think as you evaluate us the first three games, I think we did some great things from the standpoint of stopping the run and making plays in the red zone and doing a good job on third down. But the key thing is our ability to finish and close the game out.”