Garrett Wilson is eager to return to the football field, expressing his excitement for Friday night's preseason game against the Buccaneers after a year sidelined by injury. The 26-year-old star wide receiver is focused on bouncing back after a 2025 season that saw him limited to just seven games due to a knee injury. Wilson has shown no lingering effects from the injury during training camp, highlighted by a touchdown catch during a joint practice with the Buccaneers where he advanced the ball through defenders.
Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson noted Wilson's return to form, stating, "[Wilson] is back to himself." Jefferson added that Wilson's presence energizes the entire offense, describing him as a player who can "calm the storm" when the team needs a critical play.
Since being drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Wilson has been one of the few remaining first-round picks on the team. Jefferson, who has coached Wilson since 2024, has observed a significant development in his demeanor. "The really good thing is he’s taken a good step forward and been a more vocal leader," Jefferson said. "I call him a vet now."
Wilson acknowledged his evolving leadership style, indicating a newfound comfort in speaking up when necessary. "It’s more just feeling comfortable," Wilson stated. "You feel like when something needs to be said, you’ve got to say it. You don’t want to miss your moment."
Having played with nine different starting quarterbacks in his first four seasons, Wilson is now working to build chemistry with Geno Smith. The Jets organization believes they have assembled a more robust supporting cast around Wilson this season, aiming to alleviate the pressure on him. "We put pieces around him now and he doesn’t have to strain as hard," Jefferson explained. "We’re in a good place with him right now."