On Tuesday, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson created a stir with his comments during his weekly appearance on ESPN New York’s Bart and Hahn show when asked about the team’s identity.
“I don’t think we do a lot of different stuff, to be honest,” Wilson said. “When I watch football on Sundays and I see a lot of teams who mix it up and stuff like that. I don’t feel like we do that.
“I think we know our identity. It’s just about going out and executing it or figuring out if it’s going to work. I don’t think we’re trying a lot of different things.
“I know, personally, my route tree hasn’t been what it has been the last two years as far as the stuff I’ve been running. It’s just about figuring out if it’s the right identity and whether it’s going to win games and do what it needs it to do.”
On Wednesday, Jets coach Robert Saleh declined to address Wilson’s comments with the media about his “route tree” but said he was not worried about his chemistry with Aaron Rodgers.
“They’ll get on the same page,” Saleh said. “Obviously, there’s different coverages that are being run, but they’ll find a way to sync up.”
Wilson has gotten off to a slow start during the Jets’ first four games. He has 20 receptions for 191 yards, one touchdown, and is averaging 47.8 yards per game.
Wilson and Rodgers failed to connect on a few occasions during the Jets’ surprising 10-9 loss to the Broncos last Sunday. There was one instance during the second half on a second down play in which Rodgers threw the ball, and Wilson didn’t see the pass coming.
The Jets’ offense struggled against the Broncos and went without a touchdown for the first time all season. Because of that, Rodgers was visibly frustrated on and off the field. It also didn’t help the Jets committed 15 penalties against the Broncos, with 13 accepted — including five false starts by the offense.
During his 20-year career, Rodgers has used his cadence to draw defenders offsides, which has resulted in free offensive opportunities for the offense. During the opening season loss against the 49ers, Rodgers completed a 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard after Leonard Floyd jumped offsides.
Following Sunday’s game against the Broncos, Saleh told reporters that the Jets have to clean up the penalties, “whether or not” the team is “good” enough to handle all of Rodgers’ cadence.
When asked on Wednesday if he had spoken to Rodgers about the cadence issue, a testy Saleh hinted that the media had overblown the situation.
“There is no cadence issue,” Saleh said. “There never was a cadence issue. It was created.”
Whatever the issue is with the team’s offense, they will look to get on track this week against a Vikings team that’s 4-0 and a defense that’s allowing 14.8 points per game, which is fourth in the NFL.
In addition to Wilson not playing up to expectations, the Jets have also not run the ball well in the first quarter of the season. They’re averaging 91.5 rushing yards per game, the 27th-best in the league.
“We are figuring it out,” Lazard said about the Jets identity. “We haven’t reached our full potential.
“I think once we reach our full potential is when we find our true identity. It is something that we can lean on consistently. It’s a work in progress and it’s a long season.
“It’s only four games into it, but you guys [the media] can compare it, you guys can twist people’s comments and make them bigger than they really are and everything, but the bond in this locker room, the bond of this team and this organization is a lot stronger than whatever words and headlines you guys want to make out of it.”
RODGERS LISTED AS LIMITED IN PRACTICE
On Tuesday, while appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers said his left knee was a “little banged up ” and swollen. He attributed it to the “wear and tear” of Week 4 of the NFL season.
Rodgers wasn’t on the field during the Jets’ stretching period on Wednesday but later came out for practice. Because he wasn’t out during the warm-up period, Rodgers was listed as limited, but he was expected to participate in all practice drills.
“He’s just dealing with his knee, but we’re not concerned,” Saleh said about Rodgers. “It’s for the spirit of the rule of if he’s getting treatment on something, he’s got to be on the injury report.”
PRACTICE WINDOW OPEN FOR FOTU
The Jets did receive some good news on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Leki Fotu practiced for the first time since before the season started. He suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and Fotu was later placed on injured reserve.
Gang Green has 21 days to activate Fotu, or he will be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
