Jim Cerny
Garrett Wilson is completely healthy following a knee injury that sidelined him most of last season, and is a full participant in OTAs which began this week. But that’s not all the good news when it comes to the New York Jets stud wide receiver.
The 25-year-old is absolutely fired up and inspired by the New York Knicks run to the NBA Finals, as well as how they’ve captured the collective heart of New York City. And that’s motivating him to find out first-hand what the city will be like if the Jets go on their own run one day
“Seeing the people, the way they get behind their team, I know Jet fans are frothing out the mouth to cheer like that, and we want to give it to them,” Wilson said after practice Thursday. “I personally want to give it to them the most. Yeah, man, it’s cool to see and I’m glad I’m up here for it. I’m rooting for the Knicks like hell. That gives us a taste of what it might look like when we figure this thing out, which we’re excited for the opportunity.”
The Jets, of course, haven’t reached the NFL playoffs in 15 years, nor the Super Bowl since 1969, and they’re coming off a trainwreck of a season, when they finished 3-14 in 2025. The Knicks hadn’t reached the Final since 1999, nor won the NBA title since 1973, but they were certainly on more solid ground than the Jets in recent years.
Wilson understands better than most just how far the Jets need to come to reach that level to captivate the city of New York. But he said that it all begins with belief, and he believes the Jets are in a much better place than at any other point since he arrived in New York as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
His coach, Aaron Glenn, is similarly fired up by the Knicks.
“Man, I’m pulling for those guys, I really am, because they play their ass off, you know, and it’s fun to watch,” Glenn explained.
“I tell you what. That’s a gritty, gritty team.”
Key Takeaways From Start of Jets OTAs
Here are a few other Jets nuggets with OTAs currently underway.
Garrett Wilson is healthy, Kenyon Sadiq is not
The best news in Florham Park is that Wilson’s running around, making plays, and showing no ill affects following that knee injury in Week 7 last season. He didn’t require surgery, and everyone is pleased with Wilson’s recovery. Despite missing 10 games, Wilson still led the Jets with 36 receptions in 2025. So, yeah, it’s a big deal he’s healthy again.
However, rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq is not taking part in OTAs following what Glenn first called a “minor procedure” and then explained was hernia surgery. Training camp begins July 28, and Glenn expects the No. 16 overall pick in this year’s draft to be good to go by then. However, any missed time by a rookie expected to contribute right away is a blow, even if it’s during OTA’s and minicamp.
“It’s something that he dealt with, and we knew about it going into his last year of college, and he dealt with it during rookie minicamp,” Glenn explained. “”We wanted to make sure we got it done right after rookie minicamp, so he’ll be ready to go during training camp. “We wanted to make sure we got it done right after rookie minicamp, so he’ll be ready to go during training camp.”
The Jets do have tight ends Mason Taylor, a second year pro selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, and Jeremy Ruckert, inked to a new contract, and fifth-year pro Jelani Woods taking part in OTAs. So, they’re covered at the position. But Sadiq is a unique talent, a unicorn really, and the Jets want to move him all around and learn to run patterns from different schemes, not just the traditional tight-end spot. So, again, any missed time on the field is suboptimal.
Jets coach learning, appears more self aware
A less paranoid Glenn also appears to be more self aware and willing to learn after his painful first season as an NFL head coach with the Jets in 2025.
Reporters noticed a difference in him during offseason pressers, and those ahead and after the draft. And it continued Thursday, when Glenn provided a detailed, honest answer after he was asked about how he’s grown from those first OTAs a year ago.
“In a number of ways from a head coach perspective, and decision making when it comes to surrounding yourself with the right people,” he stated. “Making sure that everything is detailed out. It’s not like we didn’t dive into it last year, but, man, I’ve been just meticulous on those things, making sure that every practice we have, there’s a reason behind that. Then explaining that to not only the coaching staff, but to the players, of what we’re trying to do.
“I want those guys to know exactly why we are on the field and how we are going to operate on the field, and what we want to come away with. So, I’ve grown in that manner.”
More Mougey Magic
Right before OTAs began, Jets general manager Darren Mougey struck again. He swung another trade that turned heads. Not that he landed a star player in return, nor that he received a haul of first- and second-round picks like when he shipped out stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams last season.
No, this time he was able to trade a player whom the Jets were going to cut anyway. Somehow, Mougey landed a conditional seventh-round draft pick from the Seattle Seahawks in return for wide receiver/special teams ace Irv Charles, who missed all of last season following knee surgery.
The Jets needed to open up a roster spot to sign kicker Younghoe Koo, since Cade York is dealing with a groin issue and missing the OTAs. Charles was likely going to get cut, yet Mougey managed to land an extra late-round draft pick for him. Better than nothing.
Oh, and Koo nailed all four of his field goal tries on Day 2 of OTAs, gaining a, ahem, leg up on the kicking competition that also includes rookie Lenny Kreig.
