Despite rocky seasons for Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Jets’ Zach Wilson, 2022 offers a brighter future

Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson meet Sunday in a rare matchup — only the fourth time in the common-draft era (since 1967) that quarterbacks drafted first and second overall are facing each other as rookies.

Unlike the first three, Lawrence and Wilson are squaring off late in the season, meaning they have been banged around and scuffed up. They have experienced the hardships of rebuilding, as their respective teams — the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets — are a combined 5-23. No one said the franchise-savior business is easy.

“It’s a good reminder for y’all because we do tend to celebrate the anomalies like the [Justin] Herberts of the world,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “But as far as rookie quarterbacks, this is usually what happens. They struggle.”

Out of 31 qualified quarterbacks, Lawrence (31.7) and Wilson (22.6) are ranked 28th and 31st in Total QBR, respectively. Lawrence, the No. 1 pick, is tied for the NFL lead with 14 interceptions. Wilson’s completion percentage (56.2) is the lowest among the 31 passers.

The previous No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns?

ESPN NFL Nation reporters Mike DiRocco (Jaguars) and Rich Cimini (Jets) take a closer look at Lawrence and Wilson, who meet at MetLife Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

TREVOR LAWRENCE

What went wrong in 2021?

Pretty much everything.

Former head coach Urban Meyer created a toxic atmosphere in the facility, and he had Lawrence alternating days with the first team with quarterback Gardner Minshew throughout training camp. Running back Travis Etienne Jr. and receivers DJ Chark Jr. and