HERTFORDSHIRE, England — Garrett Wilson has done a lot of losing in his Jets career, and sometimes he has let his frustration show.
But the fourth-year receiver is trying to stay positive despite the team’s 0-5 start.
“I think I’m handling it as well as you can,” Wilson said here as the Jets prepare to face the Broncos on Sunday. “It’s obviously a tough thing to put so much into something and not have a win to show for it at this point. When you break it down, it’s a tough thought when you think about the time and the hours and just the relationships that you have, that we’re not able to win together up to this point. But the reality of it is, we still have a lot in front of us, a lot to prove.”
Wilson has elevated his game this season.
Despite being an obvious focus for opposing defenses, Wilson leads the Jets with 33 catches for 382 yards and four touchdowns.
In addition, Wilson has tried to become more of a leader of the Jets.
He was chosen as a captain by his teammates this year for the first time, and the 25-year-old is embracing the role.
Part of that he understands is being a positive force in the locker room.
“That is, maybe some would say, a job description with the captain,” Wilson said. “When I was voted captain by my teammates I took it as, ‘Oh, these people respect the way I go about my business. They voted me to be captain to be myself.’
“You’re still going to see that emotional side of me. I’m going to try to stay away from it. I wouldn’t say when I got voted captain, it was like, ‘OK, G, you’ve got to act a certain way.’ ”
Wilson has reached the end zone in four of the five games this season and has been one bright spot in a dismal Jets season.
Wilson’s route running has improved, and he is making contested catches look easy.
The Jets are moving him around to try to get him open, and he said he’s more comfortable now playing in the slot than in years past.
“This is probably my second or third year being asked to negotiate defenses from the slot more, being a true choice runner and things like that,” Wilson said. “Just those looks clearing up for me as I’m seeing them more. I would say I’m a little more trusting myself, less hesitant on routes like that when I have an option.”
Wilson is No. 10 in Jets history with 312 career catches.
“It’s cool,” Wilson said of the milestone. “Some years down the road, when I’m done playing, I’m sure I’ll tell my kids about stuff like that and maybe use it to brag and get them to believe what I’m saying.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
