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Will Jets 'retire' Garrett Wilson from his favorite offseason activity?
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Will Jets 'retire' Garrett Wilson from his favorite offseason activity?

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson may soon have an uncomfortable chat with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas. 

Wilson recently admitted he spent portions of the offseason playing pickup basketball games at a Lifetime Fitness located in New Jersey.

"A lot of my training was playing hoops, man," Wilson told Brian Costello of the New York Post. "I like to play hoops a lot and work on different body movements and things I used to do when I was younger. I feel like that was kind of my superpower or my little secret sauce is playing basketball during the offseason to get my lateral movement and all those things that translate to football." 

While that all seems harmless, Wilson acknowledged that Costello's article is the first time the Jets learned about the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year's on-the-court habits. The 22-year-old even seemed to understand he slipped during his interview. 

"I’ll dunk the ball or something … actually I won’t," Wilson said while laughing. "I’ll hit a free throw and (other players are) like, 'Wow, you’re pretty good.' They start to ask. For the most part, they give me space and let me play and know I’m out there playing like the rest of them are." 

One can envision both Saleh and Douglas groaning over the hopeful contenders potentially losing Wilson because he either slipped or landed awkwardly while attempting a highlight-reel dunk in the middle of a meaningless basketball contest vs. strangers. Roughly two years ago, the Cleveland Browns "retired" All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett from playing basketball shortly after he went viral for displaying his skills on social media.

As noted by the Post's Belle Fraser, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and other Jets players reported for training camp on Wednesday as the club looks to pursue more than a playoff berth. As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Gang Green as seventh among the betting favorites at +2000 odds to win the Super Bowl. 

Meanwhile, Wilson insisted playing a little offseason basketball will be a positive for the Jets this fall. 

"It just really taps into my get-off-the-ground ability and being reactive and adjusting to the ball, coming to meet the ball, just my reactiveness, how I pop up off the ground when I have to, not planning it but doing it," he said. 

That's all well and good, but Saleh and Douglas likely will remind Wilson he's again a one-sport athlete until the Jets play their final game of the upcoming campaign. 

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