The lion's share of the talk about the offense around Jets training camp has been directed toward QB Justin Fields. Coordinator Tanner Engstrand loves the progress Fields is making, toe puns aside, in absorbing and executing the offense. But Fields will need help this season, and Engstrand is happy to have Garrett Wilson as part of the offensive puzzle he's assembling.
"Garrett is a really smart individual, not to say I had any preconceived notions," Engstrand, Detroit's pass game coordinator the previous three seasons, said after Thursday's seventh practice of Jets training camp. "But he's a really smart player and a really good person, someone you like to be around. He cares about the people on the team."
Engstrand also likes the player on the field. Wilson produced his first 100-catch season and only the second in Jets history last season when he grabbed 101 balls for 1,104 yards. In the process, he became the first Jet and one of only three receivers in NFL history to start his career with three consecutive 80-catch, 1,000-yard seasons.
The Jets OC will need no help in optimizing Wilson's G-force on his offense. He saw something similar with the Lions in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has three and nearly had four 80 / 1,000 seasons in his four-season career.
In fact, some key numbers are eerily similar between two of the game's top pass-catchers. For starters, Wilson is 6-0 and 192 pounds while St. Brown is 6-1, 195. Their 2024 numbers were also close, with ARSB having more touchdown catches for the NFC North champion Lions while G had a better season of yards after catch:
| Wide Receiver | Team | Recs / Yds / TDs | Yds / Rec | YBC / YAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Wilson | NYJ, 2024 | 101 / 1,104 / 7 | 10.93 | 6.08 / 4.85 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET, 2024 | 115 / 1,263 / 12 | 10.98 | 7.32 / 3.66 |
"They have similar skillsets to some degree, but they have different skillsets as well," Engstrand said. "Garrett's a feel player at times. St. Brown had the feel but he was a very specific, no-wasted-motion type of player. Garrett at times will have a little bit of, I don't know, call it 'sauce' to the routes at times. We try to keep that under control where that's benefiicial to us.
"But they're both really smart players, both instinctual players, so that's a bonus, two good qualities you want in a receiver."
There is no question what the Jets think of Wilson after he signed his recent contract extension to remain with the Green & White. Yet who will working alongside and play off of Wilson's Gumby-esque body control and big-play ability as the Jets' WR2?
Josh Reynolds has been getting good reviews from fans and media through the first week of camp. Others in the competition are returnee Allen Lazard, Tyler Johnson, deep threats Arian Smith and second-year WR Malachi Corley. Holdover and special-teams standouts Xavier Gipson and Irvin Charlesare joined by first-year WRs Brandon Smith and Ontaria Wilson and undrafted rookies Jamaal Pritchett, Dymere Miller and Quentin Skinner.
Engstrand handles the question of who's where besides Wilson in his WR depth chart with coordinator's diplomacy.
"It's up for grabs. Everybody's trying to, to win the job," he said. "We're all trying to make the 53 and then the 69 [including practice squad]. And so we've got a long way to go in training camp, and a lot of guys are getting turns to go in there and play with that first group. And they're all competing.
"We're going to let the chips fall where they may. But we're happy with that group. They're making progress every day."
