Garrett Wilson adjusting to life without former fellow Jets cornerstone Sauce Gardner: ‘I hate it’

The Jets took Garrett Wilson with the 10th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, six picks after selecting Sauce Gardner. In July, both players signed nine-figure extensions, seemingly signaling their importance to the franchise’s next chapter.

They rose to stardom together, capturing Rookie of the Year honors on their respective sides of the ball. They battled in practice. They shared a locker room.

They couldn’t imagine that ending before either player turned 26.

“I was shocked,” Wilson said of the Quinnen Williams’ trade to Dallas. “It was kind of a reminder of the business that we’re in … It’s something I’m still getting used to. I don’t know being in this facility without Sauce around until these last couple days. It’s gonna be an adjustment for me. I’m sure [Gardner’s] going through his in Indy. 

“My emotions, that side of it, I hate it. I play football, I play with my brothers, I get to know my brothers, I hate it. But I’m paid to play football. No one cares if I hate it. Go catch the ball. That’s how I see it. That’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna do my job to the best of my abilities.”

The Jets’ remaining franchise cornerstone will have the opportunity when he makes his return Sunday against the Browns at MetLife Stadium. 

Wilson, a limited participant in practice the past two days, missed the past two games after hyperextending his knee against the Broncos in London on Oct. 12.

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“It’s been tough,” Wilson said after Thursday’s practice. “Honestly, I feel like it was enlightening for me to see it from a different point of view, take that time to get my knee back and now I feel great. I’m super pumped to be back out there.

“Maybe it was good for me. I’ve never been injured in my whole career. Maybe it was good for me to realize you ain’t gonna be out there every week … Maybe I was taking it for granted a little bit. I’m back to my old ways. I’m excited to go out there.”

Despite the Jets’ willingness to ship out two of their best players, Wilson was deemed untouchable. Cleveland reportedly inquired about the availability of Wilson, but the team’s top receiver — who has only known instability under center, catching passes from nine quarterbacks in four pro seasons — is considered vital to a future that could feature a new franchise quarterback next season.

Despite the trades of Gardner and Williams, Wilson said he didn’t wonder if he was also spending his final days with the team that drafted him.

“I wake up in the morning, if my name ain’t in the news, cool. If it is, we’re gonna figure it out,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t that I was thinking about it, it’s more of just don’t think about anything. Go to work. I was worrying about my knee, trying to get back healthy so I could be here in practice with my [teammates]. I truly believe you train, you approach every day because you’re replaceable as hell.”

Wilson has always been part of a rebuilding plan. And he isn’t questioning the decision to extend that timeline.

“You’ve got no choice but to move on and be about your business,” Wilson said. “I gotta do my job. I get paid to catch passes, block, help my teammates out, make plays. They get paid to do that. I’m gonna go play football and I’m excited to go at this thing. They have a vision. I don’t get paid to have a vision. They do. And they got one. And I gotta trust them.”