Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (17) gains yards after catch as Houston Texans linebacker Jake Hansen (35) pursues during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
NFL: Houston Texans at New York Jets
(Florham Park, NJ) – In a 2023 season that was disappointing compared to the high hopes that Jets fans had, a glimmer of light shone through second year receiver Garrett Wilson.
The Ohio State product became the first Jets receiver to go for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, despite league-worst quarterback play. He was expected to be the number one option for future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, and instead served as a bail-out to a number of backups who took the field after Rodgers went down in Week 1.
Wilson, anticipating the return of his healthy passer along with a revamped offensive line, expects the offseason growth to translate to the Jets “winning games. Getting into the playoffs.”
While the Jets have the longest postseason drought of any NFL team (13 seasons), they have a cast of young stars on both sides of the ball in the likes of Wilson, Breece Hall, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. Also at their disposal is a third round rookie who not only caught 79 passes in college last year, but also the eye of his new QB.
Aaron Rodgers praised Malachi Corley as his “favorite receiver in the draft.” He led all FBS receivers in yards after the catch in his last three seasons, a lethal target that should complement Garrett Wilson and newly acquired Mike Williams well.
While a thunder-and-lightning duo is often used to describe guys between the tackles, Wilson sees that type of relationship between him and the man dawning his old number, calling Corley “a brute” who has “great instinct of where this defense is going to be at [and] how to make someone miss.”
Although Wilson has since changed his number to 5 for the 2024 season, expect 8 to 17 to find the endzone a number of times this fall.
