Garrett Wilson wants just one thing as he enters fifth Jets season

It’s only July, but if you ask Garrett Wilson about his goals for this season, his mind goes to December. 

“Just playing meaningful football,” the Jets wide receiver said Wednesday. “I’ve got to hold my end with this team. Whatever they expect out of me, I’ve got to do that. If they expect a little more out of me, I’ve got to do that and play my role. I believe we’ve got the pieces in place, and that will get us to playing that meaningful football in December, which I’ve dreamed of doing for a long time, playing on that high level when it means a lot.”

That’s something that has been elusive for Wilson, who is entering his fifth season with the team. The Jets contended briefly during his rookie season but lost their final six games. They have not come close to sniffing the playoff since then. 

For the 26-year-old Wilson, there has been plenty of individual success, but the team has gone 7-10, 7-10, 5-12 and 3-14 in his first four seasons. 

Despite all that losing, Wilson is hopeful things are going to change in 2026. 

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a special year,” Wilson said. 

Wilson is coming off the most disappointing season of his career. He injured his knee in the sixth game of the season and was shut down after playing seven games. It was the first time Wilson missed any time with the Jets, and Wilson said it’s the first extended time he’s missed in his entire football career. 

New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson participates during an NFL football training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Wednesday, July 29, 2026. AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Watching from the sideline left Wilson hungering to return this season. 

“It’s been brewing since Week 8 of last season,” Wilson said. “I ended up missing the rest of that season. It’s really the first time I’ve missed significant time in my life. All of a sudden, it makes you look at things differently. Not that I ever took this game for granted, but when you miss time like that, you just can’t wait to get back and have another shot at it. That’s how I’m feeling right now. We’ve got another opportunity, a special opportunity, to turn this thing around. I’m as excited as I’ve ever been to do it this season.”

Wilson is working with yet another quarterback. That has been a familiar storyline in Wilson’s career, from his pairing with Zach Wilson early in his career to future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers and reuniting with his college teammate Justin Fields last year. None of the pairings worked. The Jets now hope Geno Smith can be the answer. 

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) speaks at a press conference during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Frank Reich will become Wilson’s fifth different play-caller as well. Wilson spoke glowingly of Reich’s system in the spring and how much freedom it gives him to adjust. Jets coach Aaron Glenn believes Reich’s system is a perfect fit for Wilson. 

“Garrett’s feeling good and he looks good,” Glenn said. “Me and Garrett had a number of conversations in the offseason. I will say this, he’s champing at the bit, especially with the type of offense that we have and especially the way that Frank is going to utilize all those guys. I know you guys heard Frank talk about this and I know you heard the players talk about this about how the players are able to use their instincts but be disciplined while they’re using it. I think that fits exactly what Garrett can do well. I’m looking forward to him doing that.”

Wilson had more than 1,000 yards receiving in his first three seasons before falling to 395 last year in the injury-shortened year. Wilson should return to the 1,000-yard mark if the Jets offense clicks. But Wilson wants those yards to come in a playoff push, not in more meaningless games. 

“It feels different this year,” Wilson said. “I don’t want to talk about it too much. It just does.”