Jets OC reacts to controversial Garrett Wilson comments

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson raised some eyebrows when he said that his "route tree hasn't been what it has been the last two years as far as the stuff I've been running" while playing alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season. 

Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett spoke with reporters on Thursday and, according to Bridget Hyland of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, was predictably asked if he is using Wilson differently now that Rodgers is available for more than four offensive snaps. 

"We want to make Garrett the focal point of the offense," Hackett explained. "We want to be sure that we’re targeting him and kind of setting things up for him. I think it’s been great to see those guys around him come up with big plays. If something’s not open, we never want to force the ball." 

ESPN stats show that Wilson heads into Sunday's game against the 4-0 Minnesota Vikings leading the Jets with 20 receptions and 34 targets on the campaign. While he's second on the team with 191 receiving yards, he's tallied only a single touchdown across the season's first four weeks and lacked chemistry with Rodgers.

Reporters seemingly will spend at least the next handful of days linking the Jets with disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders star Davante Adams, as Adams was Rodgers' teammate with the Green Bay Packers from 2014-21. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is among NFL insiders who have suggested Wilson could become "the odd man out" if the Jets land Adams. 

Jeremy Bergman of the league's website mentioned on X (formerly known as Twitter) that Hackett wisely ducked a question related to the Jets possibly acquiring "a veteran wide receiver with familiarity with your quarterback and system." For now, Hackett will have to concentrate on getting Rodgers and Wilson on the same page for the Week 5 matchup against a Vikings defense that is, per ESPN, ranked last in the league with an average of 274.3 passing yards surrendered per game. 

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the 2-2 Jets as 2.5-point underdogs against Minnesota.