When the media entered the Jets locker room shortly earlier than midday Wednesday, Garrett Wilson was sitting in entrance of his locker, going through in, watching Broncos movie.
The Jets large receiver has one of many hardest assignments of the week for Gang Inexperienced – beating Broncos star Patrick Sure. It is simply the newest in a string of powerful matchups for Wilson, who has confronted a parade of prime cornerbacks over the previous few weeks. Jets opponents have targeted on stopping Wilson.
“They’re difficult us to go elsewhere with the soccer,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated.
Final week, the Jets did.
Wilson had a quiet sport in opposition to the Patriots by his requirements with simply 5 catches for 33 yards, regardless of scoring his first landing of the season. However the consideration on Wilson opened issues up for others on offense, and Aaron Rodgers took benefit of that.
Pretty much as good because the Jets offense appeared in opposition to New England, the Jets know they’ve to herald Wilson to truly maximize their potential. Wilson is the Jets’ most dynamic playmaker. He and Brice Corridor are the go-to guys, however the Jets have not been capable of go to Wilson as a lot as they’ve wished to early this season.
“The entire focus of all three defenses we performed was to take Garrett away,” Rodgers stated after final week’s sport.
Over the previous two weeks, Wilson has been trailed by the very best cornerback on every staff. L’Jarius Sneed adopted in Tennessee, and Christian Gonzalez adopted final week for the Patriots.
That development will seemingly proceed with the Broncos and Surtain, arguably the very best cornerback in soccer, this week. In Denver’s first three video games, Surtain was 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 onus is on Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Rodgers to discover a means to herald Wilson. The Jets will seemingly put Wilson extra within the slot and use a pre-snap movement to attempt to free him up.
“It is a course of,” Rogers stated. “It’s a must to attempt to put him in conditions the place he might be No. 1 within the development, which he’s rather a lot, after which combine up the appears. We’ve to do quite a lot of issues to offer him an opportunity to maneuver. We might like to offer him the ball earlier, nevertheless it’s a course of. He have to be affected person and we have to be affected person. We won’t drive it. Pat is an outstanding participant, however so is Garrett. It may be an excellent matchup with these two guys.”
This is not the primary time Wilson has gone up in opposition to Surtain. The Jets and Broncos have performed one another in every of Wilson’s first two seasons. Sure did not journey with Wilson in 2022, however he did final yr, and Wilson had only one catch for 12 yards in opposition to a shutdown nook. He had three catches for a complete of 54 yards.
Whereas the Jets could have some issues deliberate for Wilson, that is additionally an opportunity for him to show he is among the many finest receivers within the league. Wilson is eligible for a brand new contract after this season, and there will probably be debate about the place he suits among the many prime receivers. If he needs to be talked about with Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson and receives a commission like them, he must put up numbers when the opposition focuses on shutting him down.
Jets large receiver Mike Williams is aware of what it is prefer to be a receiver that opponents wish to cease. He had that position with the Chargers for a lot of his profession.
“Once you demand that a lot consideration, they clearly respect you,” Williams stated. “It could get irritating if you happen to do not see the ball coming to you. Garrett was getting alternatives to make performs and he made them.
In three video games, Wilson has 15 catches for 150 yards. It feels somewhat like the beginning of this Yankees season when Aaron Choose acquired off to a gradual begin. The priority it generated appears comical now that Choose is approaching 60 dwelling runs once more.
Wilson will quickly begin hitting his personal bombs. He is too good to not.
