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As if the Jets didn’t face a big enough challenge in facing the 5-2 Chiefs on Sunday in Kansas City, they’ll also be without Garrett Wilson.
Aaron Glenn said Friday the wide receiver would be out for the 2-6 Jets after being put in concussion protocol following last Sunday’s loss to the Raiders.
Wilson’s lack of targets has been the subject of significant consternation with the Jets this season, as he’s been targeted just 7.8 times per game, the lowest since his rookie year, but he still leads the team with 43 receptions, 527 yards and three touchdowns.
“I think it speaks for itself,” Glenn said of the blow to the offense the loss of Wilson creates. “Any time you lose a player of that magnitude, it’s always tough. But we do have other players. Those guys will look forward to the challenge.”
That includes Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr.
Mitchell is coming off a career-best game against Las Vegas, as he finished the loss with seven catches, 142 yards and a touchdown.
Cooper has impressed as a rookie since coming back from an ankle injury, but he didn’t catch any passes last week after topping the 100-yard mark in each of the team’s previous two games against New England and Miami.
“It’s a great opportunity, but you always want a guy like that out there,’’ Cooper said of missing Wilson. “It doesn’t change much for my preparation and my game plan. I’m gonna do the same things as before and make sure I can attack whatever I can to help the team.”
Certainly, though, it will likely increase the pressure on the receiving corps, as well as the team itself.
“That’s possible,” Cooper said. “But it’s what you consider to be pressure.”
Pressure could be trying to make up for missing a pass catcher who finished with over 1,000 yards receiving in his three healthy seasons and could be on his way to another this year after being limited to seven games in 2025.
Among the reasons Wilson has seen his targets decrease is the attention that’s paid to him by opposing defenses.
That luxury is gone for the Jets this week, at least, which will make it more difficult for Mitchell to duplicate the success he had against the Raiders.
Even Mitchell can’t guarantee a repeat of last week.
“We’ll see,” Mitchell said of how he puts up those kinds of numbers consistently. “It was my first one. It’s just not changing my preparation. Ultimately, the preparation is what got me the opportunity on Sunday. So keep that consistent and always keep the main thing the main thing.”
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Certainly, getting more accustomed to playing with Geno Smith helps.
“In my eyes, that’s when preparation meets opportunity,” Mitchell said of them working well together. “The preparation was put in during OTAs, during summer break and during fall camp. So it’s just a product of preparation.”
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Thursday, “In one respect, you can’t replace Garrett Wilson. He’s a unique player. But on the other hand, we’re not afraid. We saw the game [Mitchell] had. We saw the game [Cooper] had. We have a lot of confidence in our guys. They’re different players, so maybe you do slightly different things. … You have to play to your players’ strengths.”
Even if it’s not always the players you rely on the most.
