Wilson has second 100-yard game in three weeks

No one on the Jets offense got home for fantasy purposes as the Bears held on to the ball for several long drives in the second half. The Jets possessed the ball for just 17 minutes on the day. Wilson’s four targets led the New York offense, as Geno Smith was limited to a mere 15 pass attempts. Wilson continues to dominate air yards and targets in the Jets offense and should remain in all lineups next week against Cleveland.

Wilson took a hard hit late in the fourth quarter and was slow to get up. The Jets turned the ball over on the next play, so we never got to see Wilson return, but it sounds like he would have been back on the field had the game gone to overtime. Wilson ended the day with 10 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. He found the end zone on an incredible circus catch late in the fourth quarter to tie the game up. As expected, Wilson was the focal point of the Jets’ passing attack with Adonai Mitchell sidelined. Even if Mitchell returns next week versus the Bears, Wilson will be moving up the WR2 ranks.

Wilson saw five fewer targets than Adonai Mitchell, but played more snaps and ran more routes. Mitchell simply sees more quick-hitter looks close to the line of scrimmage, while Wilson is used more over the middle of the field. The Packers also frequently sent safety help over to Wilson’s side, but the 26-year-old was still able to make a few big catches when they mattered. He should be in for a bigger day against the Lions next week.

With the Jets in the unusual position of dominating a game from whistle to whistle, new QB Geno Smith dropped back just 24 times. Translation, Wilson coming away with seven targets was actually a pretty good outcome. The Jets’ blocking appeared much improved, but this was not a true test, even if it came on the road. That will come in Week 2 for the Jets’ home opener against the Packers. Wilson will remain a solid WR2 whose high floor will hopefully be accompanied by more ceiling efforts this season.

Reich has reportedly added wrinkles to the offense he deployed as head coach of the Colts and Panthers. At both of those stops his offenses were near the bottom of the league in most basic offensive metrics. Smith, meanwhile, has looked sharp as the team’s starting quarterback throughout training camp and in limited preseason snaps. He’ll look to bounce back from a nightmarish statistical 2025 season in Vegas. Jets players, including Garrett Wilson, told The Athletic that they have enjoyed the “player empowerment” that comes along with Reich’s coaching style and his offensive scheming, which leaves room for improvisation. The Jets offense could be functional as long as Smith, 35, is healthy and upright.

Wilson’s knee injury cost him 10 games last season, but the star receiver is in a good spot this offseason. Wilson is participating in OTAs and also had praise for his quarterback, Geno Smith, who he said throws a “friendly ball.” It’s an encouraging sign for the 25-year-old receiver who posted three-straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career before his 2025 season was derailed. He’s the unquestioned WR1 on the Jets’ depth chart and is surrounded by unproven talent in Adonai Mitchell and rookie Omar Cooper Jr. Wilson will have high-end WR2 upside this season with a chance to crack the top-12 at his position in fantasy in a new-look offense.

The reports comes off the heels of New York swapping Jermaine Johnson for T’Vondre Sweat. Hughes made it clear the Jets aren’t having a fire sale, though it’s hard to see this as anything else. They sent most of their big names packing at the trade deadline last year, with Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams, and Michael Carter all traded. At this point, the Jets are running out of players to deal, even if they want to keep making moves. Justin Fields is expected to be released, but a team looking to sign him could guarantee his services by trading for him. Garrett Wilson was also the subject of trade rumors last year, though the Jets just inked him to a long-term deal and didn’t seem interested in moving him at the deadline.

Glenn had been reluctant to say in recent weeks whether Wilson would return this season, but he has finally confirmed that his WR1 will be shut down for the remainder of the season. Wilson suffered a knee sprain in Week 6 against the Broncos and re-aggravated that same injury in Week 11. The Week 11 injury landed Wilson on injured reserve, meaning he wouldn’t be eligible to return until Week 15. With the Jets in the final weeks of another lost season, there was little reason to force Wilson back on the field and risk another injury. Wilson caught 36 passes for 395 yards and four touchdowns in the seven games he appeared in this season while averaging 8.4 targets per game. This will mark the first time in his four-year career that Wilson failed to go for 1,000 yards, but there’s little reason to believe he won’t be ready to bounce back next season. The Jets have a lot to figure out this offseason, especially at the quarterback position following the failed Justin Fields experiment. Despite the question marks in the team’s QB room, Wilson should profile as a high-upside WR2 in fantasy next season.

Wilson is eligible to be activated off injured reserve this week, but Glenn declined to comment on whether or not that would happen. The Jets’ head coach said any decision to activate Wilson would be a medical decision that’s made by Wilson and the team doctors. The Jets are 3-10 and in the process of wrapping up another lost season. Given the nature of his knee injury and the fact that it was a re-aggravation that landed him on injured reserve, it would seem there’s little reason for the Jets to risk the health of their top receiver at this point in the season.

Glenn also said that it’s up to the doctors whether or not Wilson, who was placed on IR earlier this week, will return. The star receiver is required to miss at least three more games before a return can even be considered, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the team opted to play it cautious with him in what is already a lost season. The earliest Wilson can return is Week 15 against the Jaguars.