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New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 15.
However, there has been some debate on whether or not Wilson should return to the field, considering the Jets are 3-9 heading into their matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY fully expects Wilson to return to the lineup when he is healthy.
“If you’re going big picture, yeah, that makes sense, shut him down and don’t use him,” Hughes responded when asked on “Jets Mailbag” if the team should keep him on the bench. “I just don’t think you can do that to Garrett. Garrett is such a different guy … He wants to win so bad and he wants to be on the field so bad that when he is healthy and he can clear and pass all the tests, I don’t see, especially because this isn’t a knee tear or anything like that, I don’t see the Jets being able to keep Garrett Wilson out of the lineup. I genuinely do believe that. I think he is a guy who is going to have to be out there, and he is going to want to be out there, and the Jets are ultimately going to have to put him back out there.”
“So when he is healthy, I do think the Jets will probably put him out there unless something crazy happens over the next couple of weeks,” Hughes added.
Head Coach Aaron Glenn Punts When Asked About Wilson’s Potential Return
“Well, we will see. We will let that time come, and I’ll be able to answer questions about that as that time comes,” head coach Aaron Glenn told the media on Friday, December 5.
The former Ohio State product was placed on IR ahead of the Week 11 Thursday Night Football contest against the New England Patriots.
When a player is placed on injured reserve, they are forced to miss a minimum of four games. The Week 14 contest against the Dolphins will meet the minimum requirement for IR.
Wilson initially hyperextended his knee in Week 6 versus the Denver Broncos. He was essentially out a month of football, missed two games, with a bye week sprinkled in there. Wilson returned in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns, but he re-aggravated the knee injury.
An Interesting Dilemma for the Jets
The Jets are unlikely to make the playoffs. They could be eliminated on Sunday. At 3-9, what’s the point?
Now there are multiple examples of players who have returned despite poor records. Joe Burrow came back to the Cincinnati Bengals at 3-8. Jayden Daniels is returning to a 3-9 Washington Commanders team.
The Bengals are a unique example because of the playoff possibilities in the AFC North, but the point stands. Those records would indicate the return of either player isn’t playoff-motivated.
Why should the Jets be any different with Wilson? The Jets are undoubtedly a better team with Wilson on offense than without.
NFL analyst Will Parkinson posted on social media, “Would love to see the Jets get those WRs playing together with some competent QB play over a period of a month to see what it looks like overall.”
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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