FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — This time, New York Jets extensive receiver Garrett Wilson made his intentions clear. It was a departure from his public frustration in December that fueled hypothesis he was contemplating a commerce request.
“I am hopeful I am a Jet for all times and that we get this factor rolling and that each one of our greatest days are forward of us,” Wilson mentioned Wednesday after the Jets’ first open OTA apply.
Wilson’s feedback had been important as a result of he’s eligible for a contract extension. Nothing is imminent, however Jets officers have mentioned they’d wish to lock up their high younger gamers. Wilson, who’s signed by way of 2026 (his fifth-year choice was just lately exercised), mentioned there have been “just a few discussions, right here and there” between his agent and the group.
“When the time does come and people conversations are being had,” he added, “I will attempt to do my half to guarantee that it is simple.”
Wilson posted profession highs final season in receptions (101), receiving yards (1,104) and touchdowns (seven), however his in-game physique language, mixed with cryptic feedback about his future, created the notion he was disgruntled.
“I perceive that it is perceived a sure means,” he mentioned. “The fact of it’s — no, I wasn’t blissful dropping, however I wasn’t sad.”
Two issues contributed to Wilson’s angle change: The arrival of coach Aaron Glenn, who has infused the group with hope, and the Justin Fields-for-Aaron Rodgers swap at quarterback.
Glenn has made it clear to Wilson that he will likely be a foundational participant. On Wednesday, Glenn mentioned the target is to “get him the ball as a lot as potential.”
As for the quarterback change, it was clear final season that Wilson and Rodgers did not see eye to eye, resulting in pressure of their relationship. Now, Wilson will likely be catching passes from his former Ohio State teammate. He gushed about Fields.
“He trusts me. I belief him. We have an excellent communication. We communicate to one another nicely. We all know precisely what we’re pondering, and that is so key,” Wilson mentioned. “We’re simply attempting to get one of the best out of one another. That goes again 5, six years now.
“So, for me, I do know precisely what he can do, and I nonetheless suppose the world’s acquired to see it. And that is a gorgeous factor about this. We have all acquired one thing to show on this group. We’ve not achieved nothing but. And I do know all of us acquired that chip on our shoulder.”
Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract as a free agent, has impressed the Jets with what many describe as a quiet confidence.
Glenn mentioned Fields is “genuine”: “He is not going to alter for no person, and I would slightly have that than any individual that is faux.”
As Glenn added, “I like that he is not attempting to be — and I will use a [Bill] Parcells [quote] now: He is not attempting to be the celeb quarterback. He is simply attempting to be himself.”
He did not point out Rodgers by title, however Glenn’s reference to a “celeb quarterback” actually conjured up ideas of the longer term Corridor of Famer who was launched by Glenn in a short and contentious assembly on Feb. 6.
Rodgers’ departure sparked a controversial social media put up from Jets star defensive sort out Quinnen Williams, who mentioned on X in February, “One other rebuild 12 months for me I suppose.” Williams later deleted the put up.
On Wednesday, Williams mentioned he regretted his response.
“I positively suppose it was an immature factor for me to do in the meanwhile,” he mentioned. “Out of emotion, out of frustration, it was positively immature.”
Glenn, not pleased with the put up, mentioned it with Williams on the time. Now that he has had an opportunity to get acquainted with Glenn and the brand new workers, Williams mentioned he’s “tremendous, tremendous excited and tremendous, tremendous assured that we’re moving into the suitable course to win soccer video games and to do the issues that I need to do.”
Williams, one of many longest-tenured gamers on the group, has skilled six straight dropping seasons since being drafted by New York with the third decide in 2019. The Jets have gone 14 years with out making the playoffs, the league’s longest lively drought.
“I would like to alter the entire narrative of the New York Jets dropping streaks, the playoff streaks and various things like that,” Williams mentioned. “I used to be drafted right here a very long time in the past, and I used to be paid to assist change this factor round. I put on that as a badge of honor. I need to guarantee that earlier than I go away this recreation, the New York Jets are going to be on high and the New York Jets are going to be the soccer group to look at.”
