Garrett Wilson bringing healthy attitude to Jets with hopes they do a better job of avoiding injuries in 2024
Garrett Wilson, 5 during the New York Jets OTA at the Jets Practice facility in Florham Park, NJ, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Credit: Ed Murray
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Garrett Wilson needed to get away and clear his mind after last season. The talented receiver described his break as “Zen” and “chill.” Wilson returned to the Jets with only one goal in mind.
“Winning games,” Wilson said following Wednesday’s OTA practice. “Winning, getting in the playoffs. I’m confident that if we do that everything will take care of itself. I’ve always kind of lived by that. Let’s focus on winning, and the other stuff will shine through.
“We got to win somehow. We’ve got to score points. I’ll have something to do it. We all will. I’m excited.”
Wilson has put together back-to-back seasons of more than 1,000 receiving yards, but the two straight 7-10 seasons stuck with him. After last season ended, Wilson called it “the worst year of my life.”
Having Aaron Rodgers back on the field and in the huddle and all the changes the Jets have made on offense have Wilson believing this year will be very different. There is one caveat: The Jets need to stay healthy.
“I’m confident as I would be any year,” Wilson said. “But this year if we find a way to stay healthy . . . and play good ball on Sundays when it matters, we’re going to be all right.”
Injuries were a big reason the Jets underachieved last season. They lost Rodgers four snaps into Week 1 due to a torn left Achilles tendon. The offensive line was decimated. The Jets started 13 different offensive line combinations.
The Jets rebuilt the offensive line. They brought in veteran starters Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses and John Simpson and drafted Olu Fashanu. They also improved the receiving room, adding Mike Williams and drafting Malachi Corley.
Everyone realizes the biggest piece is Rodgers, whose health is of utmost importance.
Wilson has 178 receptions for 2,145 yards and seven touchdowns from seven different quarterbacks not named Rodgers. Wilson hopes the Jets can have stability there with Rodgers being the primary quarterback.
“That would be awesome,” Wilson said. “If we can find a way to stay upright out there and keep Aaron on his feet, I’m excited for that and everything that comes with it. It’s harder done than said. It’s one of those things. That’s a lot of games. They take a lot of hits when they’re not looking. How can we keep him healthy?”
The two were quickly building chemistry last year and working on getting it back. Wilson made a diving catch across the middle of a Rodgers pass on Wednesday.
“He’s got all the makings of a star receiver,” Rodgers said. “I feel like if we can both stay healthy, we can accomplish a lot this year. It’s going to be important we communicate.”
Wilson talks to Rodgers a lot and asks him questions all the time. Wilson also said he’s more comfortable now having some “tougher conversations” with Rodgers. They don’t always agree, but Wilson said he’s always going to give his opinion and he welcomes Rodgers’ as well.
“He’s got his two cents, which is always the best two cents I’ve heard,” Wilson said.
Wilson also looks forward to getting on the field with the new receivers. Williams is recovering from a torn ACL. Corley has practiced but left Wednesday early and didn’t return.
Those two additions should keep some of the attention off Wilson and make the Jets more difficult to defend, especially with Rodgers delivering the football.
“I’m excited to see it all full health,” Wilson said. “I feel like we got a great group. The No. 1 thing is how can we stay healthy? How can we all be out on the field?
“The group we have is going to help us. Having guys that can do different things, that can go catch the ball, work the middle, all types of things that’s going to take some of the strain off all of us. It’s a good group. I feel like we haven’t had the whole thing together. Come season time, when we’re rolling, it’s going to be exciting.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
