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Following a 2022 season that saw them boast some serious talent and grit on the defensive side of the ball, the common consensus became that the New York Jets were just a quarterback away from Super Bowl contention, hence the home run swing that was the acquisition of Aaron Rodgers.
As we now know, things — as they usually do for Gang Green — very much DID NOT go to plan, as Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into his career with the team, further cementing the notion that the team is cursed.
Instead, the Jets now find themselves with Zach Wilson at quarterback once again, and as a result, as living somewhere between deja vu and purgatory, as 2023 is shaping up to be a lot like 2022: if only they had a quarterback.
Of all the players on the Jets, the one is likely affected most was second-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who many expected to vault himself into the conversation of the NFL’s elite receivers now that he would have a future Hall of Famer tossing him the pig skin.
But while Wilson has performed admirably this season (it helps that his sheer talent makes him almost undeniable), it hasn’t been enough to help the Jets’ offense as a whole, as they’ve scored just eight offensive touchdowns through eight games.
Given the offense’s ineptitude, the onus to win games falls on the defense, which caused Wilson to feel guilty whenever the Jets’ O trots off the field after another unsuccessful drive.
“It’s inexcusable, man, and it’s getting to the point where it’s disappointing,” Wilson told ESPN following the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. “I hate coming off the field, looking our defense in the eyes and knowing that we have to send them back out there after three-and-out. Them boys are my dogs and they come out and ball. They put us in a great position. It’s time for us to start returning the favor, man. It’s time. We got to figure it out.”’
With their record currently sitting at 4-4, the Jets still have the chance to make the playoffs if their offense can at least figure out a way to put up a couple of touchdowns per game given how elite their defense is. Considering how they’ve played through half the season, however, that seems like a VERY big if.