When the media entered the Jets locker room shortly earlier than midday on Wednesday, Garrett Wilson was sitting at his locker, dealing with in, watching movie of the Broncos.
The Jets extensive receiver has one of many hardest assignments of the week for Gang Inexperienced — beating Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain. It’s simply the newest in a sequence of powerful matchups for Wilson, who has confronted a parade of prime cornerbacks prior to now few weeks. Jets opponents have been centered on shutting Wilson down.
“They’re daring us to go some other place with the soccer,” Jets coach Robert Saleh mentioned.
Final week, the Jets did.
Wilson had a quiet recreation in opposition to the Patriots by his requirements with simply 5 catches for 33 yards, though he did rating his first landing of the season. However the consideration on Wilson opened issues up for others on offense and Aaron Rodgers took benefit of it.
Nearly as good because the Jets offense appeared in opposition to New England, the Jets know they should get Wilson concerned to actually maximize their potential. Wilson is probably the most dynamic playmaker on the Jets. He and Breece Corridor are the go-to guys, however the Jets have been unable to go to Wilson as a lot as they’d like early this season.
“The complete focus of all three defenses we’ve performed has been taking Garrett away,” Rodgers mentioned after final week’s recreation.
The final two weeks, Wilson has been adopted by the most effective cornerback on every crew. L’Jarius Sneed adopted him in Tennessee and Christian Gonzalez adopted him final week for the Patriots.
That pattern is prone to proceed with the Broncos and Surtain, maybe the most effective cornerback in soccer, this week. In Denver’s first three video games, Surtain has been on DK Metcalf of the Seahawks, George Pickens of the Steelers and Mike Evans of the Buccaneers. Metcalf had three catches for 29 yards in opposition to Surtain. Pickens caught two passes for 29 yards. Evans had two catches for 17 yards.
The burden falls on Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Rodgers to discover a option to get Wilson concerned. The Jets possible will put Wilson within the slot extra and use pre-snap movement to attempt to free him up.
“It’s a course of,” Rodgers mentioned. “You’ve obtained to attempt to put him in conditions the place he may be the No. 1 within the development, which he’s lots, after which combine up the appears to be like. We have now to do a number of issues to provide him an opportunity to get shifting. We’d prefer to get the ball to him early, however it’s a course of. He must be affected person and we’ve obtained to be affected person. We will’t drive it. Pat’s an exceptional participant, however Garrett is, too. It’s going to be a very good matchup with these two guys.”
This isn’t the primary time Wilson has confronted Surtain. The Jets and Broncos have performed one another in every of Wilson’s first two seasons. In 2022, Surtain didn’t journey with Wilson, however he did final yr and Wilson solely had one catch for 12 yards in opposition to the shutdown nook. He had three catches for 54 yards general.
Whereas the Jets can scheme some issues up for Wilson, that is additionally an opportunity for him to show he’s among the many league’s greatest extensive receivers. Wilson is eligible for a brand new contract after this season and there might be debate the place he suits in with the highest receivers. If he needs to be talked about with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, and paid like them, he must put up numbers when the opponent is concentrated on shutting him down.
Jets extensive receiver Mike Williams is aware of what it’s prefer to be the receiver opponents wish to cease. He had that function with the Chargers for a lot of his profession.
“If you require a lot consideration, clearly they respect you,” Williams mentioned. “It may well get irritating for those who’re not seeing the ball coming your approach. Garrett was getting his alternative to make performs and he made them.”
By three video games, Wilson has 15 catches for 150 yards. It feels slightly like the start of this Yankees season when Aaron Choose began sluggish. The priority that generated appears to be like comical now as Choose once more approaches 60 dwelling runs.
Wilson will begin hitting his personal bombs quickly. He’s too good to not.
