The NFL schedule makers have handed Zach Wilson an intriguing pro debut game.
Wilson and the New York Jets will play the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte in Week 1 of the 2021 season, the league announced Wednesday morning.
The full 2021 schedule will be released Wednesday at 6 p.m. MDT.
That means the former BYU quarterback, who was the No. 2 overall pick by the Jets in this year’s NFL draft, will face Sam Darnold, who New York traded to Carolina earlier this offseason.
Wilson will also take on his former left tackle at BYU, Brady Christensen, a third-round pick by the Panthers. Two other Cougars, wide receiver Micah Simon and linebacker Kavika Fonua, will join Christensen at Carolina’s rookie minicamp this weekend, which runs Thursday to Sunday.
Both Wilson and Darnold are expected to start for their respective teams. The Jets have spent the offseason building up their offensive weapons for their rookie quarterback, adding wide receivers Corey Davis and Keelan Cole in free agency and drafting wideout Elijah Moore and running back Michael Carter. They also used a second first-round pick to bolster the offensive line depth by taking Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Darnold, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to face the franchise he called home for three years in his first game with Carolina. He was the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft and went 13-25 as the team’s starter, though that included going 2-10 as the starter in 2020 when Darnold threw for 2,208 yards, nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions.