Garrett Wilson has not maintained contact with his former teammates as the Jets season opener approaches.
Last year, Wilson had 98 successful receptions out of 101 attempts from Aaron Rodgers. On Sunday, Rodgers returned to MetLife Stadium as the starting quarterback for the Steelers.
However, their connection has faded off the field.
“I hadn’t spoken to Aaron since he left,” Wilson mentioned after practice on Thursday. “I wish him the best for the season, but we haven’t chatted since he moved on.”
Wilson expressed some frustration with Rodgers last season, especially after the Jets pivoted to trading for Davante Adams, a long-time teammate of Rodgers during their time with the Packers.
Adams became Rodgers’ primary target in the latter part of the season. Consequently, Wilson’s share of targets and production suffered, and he made less-than-subtle comments about it.
“I want to get involved; I love having an impact on the game, but it’s perceived differently,” Wilson said last December. “It’s beyond my control.”
After the season, the Jets parted ways with Adams and reestablished Wilson as their primary receiver. They then awarded him a four-year, $130 million contract extension.
Still, Wilson was candid about his time playing with Rodgers.
“I had the chance to play with a legend of the game,” Wilson reflected. “I learned something new every day. I aimed to absorb as much as possible, and it’s tough to articulate the value I gained from those moments spent with him, particularly how he talked about the game.”
Rodgers’ two-year stint with the Jets, including his first season marred by a torn Achilles, didn’t yield the expected results.
There had been significant offseason excitement about the potential of the duo of Rodgers and Wilson, but they ultimately didn’t translate that into success on the field.
“That’s the nature of the game,” Wilson stated. “We construct the team for a reason, but when we take the field on Sundays, we need to deliver. Unfortunately, we didn’t play our best football, and that was that.”
This season, Rodgers steps in for former Ohio teammate Justin Fields, alongside a newer head coach, Aaron Glenn. Wilson believes the Jets have a better chance this time of converting offseason optimism into real results.
“We fought fiercely during the offseason,” Wilson said. “We know the stakes, and we’re already adjusted. This feels different.”
