The New York Jets enter Sunday’s matchup at MetLife Stadium carrying a clear internal mandate: get Garrett Wilson the football early and often. Facing a winless Miami Dolphins team, the 2-4 Jets are looking to reverse a sluggish offensive trend that has seen their star receiver experience long stretches of games without a target.
Wilson’s visible frustration boiled over during last week’s game in New England, where he managed just two targets through the first three quarters and finished with six overall. While Wilson still leads the AFC with 35 receptions and ranks second in the conference with 48 targets, the distribution of those touches has sparked concern within the organization.
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich acknowledged the challenge this week, praising Wilson’s professionalism while confirming that coaching adjustments are underway to ensure the playmaker remains heavily involved from the opening whistle. Reich noted that head coach Aaron Glenn actively monitors target distribution from the sideline to remind the coaching staff when Wilson has gone too long without a touch.
“A.G. is always in my ear if Garrett hasn’t gotten the ball for a little bit,” Reich said during a media session in Florham Park, N.J. “He’s, ‘Hey, don’t forget. Boom, get our playmakers the ball,’ that kind of thing, which is good. We’re trying to get to him as early and as often as we can.”
Beyond the primary focus on Wilson, the Jets offense has battled deeper structural issues in situational football throughout the season. The unit has struggled with two-minute drills, third-down conversions, and red-zone efficiency, managing a total of just four touchdowns across their last three outings. While increased targets for Wilson will not instantly resolve every flaw, players and coaches believe establishing him early can jump-start a stagnant attack.
Wilson emphasized the importance of early involvement, noting that getting his feet wet in the opening quarter helps build rhythm and trust for the remainder of the contest. Fortunately for the offense, quarterback Geno Smith will receive a significant boost this weekend with the return of wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who has missed the past four games due to a finger injury. Sunday marks the first time since the opening series of their Week 1 victory over the Titans that Smith will have his full complement of receivers and tight ends available.
At 2-4, the team faces a crucial juncture in the schedule where a misstep could cause the season to spiral out of control. However, veterans warn against taking their upcoming opponents lightly despite Miami’s 0-5 record and youth. The Dolphins have yet to hold a lead this season, but three of their five defeats have come against undefeated opponents in the 49ers, Chiefs, and Vikings.
“I don’t think we’re in a position to be looking at anybody’s record,” veteran linebacker Demario Davis said. “We’re worried about going 1-0 every time we step out there. That’s got to be our mindset. It’s not like we’ve got all Ws and no losses where we can feel really good about our record versus a winless team.”
