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Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff Writer
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Explaining a sideline outburst that went viral, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said he was upset by the play selection at times during Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wilson, caught by TV cameras, vented to receivers coach Shawn Jefferson after a stalled red-zone drive in the third quarter – the latest example of public frustration that has some wondering if he will request a trade in the offseason.
On Thursday, Wilson sent mixed signals on his future, saying, “I love the Jets … they were the ones that believed in me.” The 2022 first-round pick said it would be a “blessing” and “awesome” to receive a contract extension, but he stopped short of making a definitive commitment beyond that, saying he’s focused on the final three games and “can’t be worrying about” the offseason.
Wilson’s rookie contract runs through 2025, plus a fifth-year option in 2026. He’s eligible for an extension after the season. A person familiar with the situation said he wouldn’t be surprised if Wilson asks for a trade.
He’s an emotional player, not shy about expressing himself when something goes wrong – and it did for two-plus quarters on Sunday.
Trailing 13-7, Wilson had single coverage on a first down from the Jacksonville 12 and felt he could’ve scored on a fade route. Instead, they ran the ball for one yard, then gained zero on a gadget play (a push pass to Davante Adams) before Aaron Rodgers was sacked on third down. They settled for a field goal.
“We’ve struggled in the red zone this season,” Wilson told ESPN on Wednesday. “I feel like sometimes we overcomplicate the game of football that we play. Me and Tae (Adams) pride ourselves on a lot of different things as far as playing receiver and we were brought here for a reason.
“If we’re struggling in the red zone, I feel like (the fade) is a safe route to go as far as that. I saw the camera caught that, and I’m sorry they did — whoever may be offended. But, yeah, I play this game a little differently.”
In that situation, Wilson wanted a chance to beat his man. Rodgers has the freedom to change the play at the line, but he opted for the run.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as — if they’re going to play man coverage, one-on-one on receivers with their DBs, they’re saying that they trust their DBs. If you throw the fade, it’s showing that you trust your receivers.”
Wilson noted that, on the Jets’ subsequent possession, they scored on a 1-yard fade to Adams. The Jets went on to win, 32-25, as Adams finished with 198 receiving yards and two touchdowns – all in the second half. Wilson had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown for the game.
Passing-game coordinator Todd Downing, who replaced Nathaniel Hackett as the play caller in Week 6, downplayed the sideline rant.
“He’s an elite competitor and we wanted to score touchdowns in the red zone and finish drives, and he saw that he had a one-on-one opportunity. That’s it. Period. Point blank,” Downing said of Wilson. “I know it got blown up as a little bit more than that. It truly isn’t.”
Downing said the situation was “quickly over.” Wilson’s frustration apparently had been building throughout the game.
“They caught me telling (Jefferson), but that was probably about the third or fourth time I said it,” he said.
On Thursday, Wilson said, “I’m all good.” He acknowledged that he expresses his feelings “a little differently than most. … Maybe I should chill out a little bit.”
Wilson is frustrated by the losing. The Jets are 18-30 since he was drafted, including 4-10 this season. He called last season (7-10) the toughest year of his life. The Jets will have a new coaching staff and new general manager in 2025, a perhaps a new quarterback. He declined to say whether those changes would impact his desire to stay long term.
With 933 receiving yards, Wilson is on the verge of becoming the first Jets player in nearly 60 years to record three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He’s eligible for a contract extension after the season and could seek a deal that will make him one of the highest-paid receivers.
“Guys like that that are such high-level competitors,” Downing said, “that you’d be concerned if they didn’t want the ball.”
Source: www.espn.com