Garrett Wilson on Odell Beckham comparisons after his insane ‘Jumpman’ TD catch: ‘I’m honored’
It wasn't Garrett Wilson's nine catches for 90 yards that stood out. It was his two tremendous touchdown catches that galvanized the team and helped them end a five-game losing streak.
Two weeks ago, following a 22-point loss to the Steelers, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson blamed himself for the defeat.
In the third quarter of that game, a pass from Aaron Rodgers bounced off Wilson’s numbers and into Beanie Bishop Jr.‘s hands for the interception. That led to a Pittsburgh touchdown and an eventual easy win.
In Thursday’s 21-13 victory against the Texans, Wilson arguably had his finest game in a Jets uniform.
It wasn’t Wilson’s nine catches for 90 yards that stood out. It was his two tremendous touchdown catches that galvanized the team and helped them end a five-game losing streak.
In the third quarter, Wilson reeled in a 21-yard one-handed touchdown pass from Rodgers that tied the game at 7-7. But it was Wilson’s second touchdown grab on a 3rd-and-19 play on the Texans’ 26-yard line during the fourth quarter that looked like the Air Jordan ‘Jumpman’ logo.
The play gave the Jets a 14-10 lead, which they did not relinquish.
“I was like, ‘I hope that one counts, I hope that’s not one of those that I have to be like what if,’ Wilson said. “But I’m glad it did.
“That was all my teammates. I was just happy I can make a play for my teammates. They trust me, they believe in me, they give me hope. I’m just glad I can make a play for my teammates.”
The play was initially ruled incomplete after it looked like Wilson couldn’t get two feet in bounds. However, it was eventually overturned after it was ruled that his right shin landed in bounds.
“Before the snap, I knew it was third-and-extra-long,” Rodgers said. “I was looking at the weak-side safety, I was like, ‘If he drops down at all, I’m just going to say screw it, I’m going to throw it up to G.”‘
“I felt like I put it in a decent spot, but yeah, I didn’t do a whole lot when it comes down to it. I just kind of lobbed one up there. He made an unbelievable catch. When I saw the replay, it looked like he had his knee in, so I thought, shoot, throw the challenge.
“Brick [Jeff Ulbrich] was already in front of me throwing it. But that was a huge play. The first one was a huge play as well. What was it, third-and-20? Yeah, that’s a game-changing play.”
Game changing it was. The Jets offense looked dormant before Wilson’s spectacular catch.
Gang Green had zero points and 69 yards of total offense in the first half. Rodgers also struggled, completing 7 of 14 passes for 32 yards in the opening 30 minutes.
But Wilson’s two one-handed touchdown catches in the second half helped spark a Jets offense that had been struggling during their five-game losing streak. When the catch was made, many compared it to Odell Beckham‘s a decade ago at MetLife Stadium against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football.
Wilson also remembers watching Beckham’s catch live in Texas with his father.
“Odell’s was different,” Wilson said. “He got two feet down and the ball was going to land out of bounds. It was Odell, man. That was the one. To even come up in that [conversation], I’m blessed, and I’m honored.”
Wilson’s 2024 season did not get off to a great start. He failed to register more than 60 yards receiving in his first four games and had just 20 catches for 191 yards and a touchdown. Wilson’s chemistry with Rodgers was off after the quarterback missed all but four plays of the 2023 season due to an Achilles tear.
Since then, Wilson has been Rodgers’ favorite target.
Wilson has registered 40 receptions for 472 yards and four touchdowns in the last five games.
October was also not kind to the Jets. Owner Woody Johnson fired coach Robert Saleh and made defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich interim coach.
The Jets also hadn’t won a game until Thursday’s win against the Texans. During that time, Gang Green also changed offensive play-callers, dealing with tons of adversity and trying to remain in the playoff hunt.
Now that the five-game skid is over, the Jets (3-6) hope they can turn their win against the Texans into a winning streak to get close to .500 before their bye in Week 12.
“Davante [Adams], Garrett, Breece [Hall], big-time players make big-time plays,” Jets tight end Tyler Conklin said. “Breece ran the hell out of the ball. Tae obviously sealed the deal with the touchdown right there and Garrett with two touchdowns.
“They stepped up big and obviously we need them to keep stepping up big.”
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