Garrett Wilson was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 with a less-than-stellar quarterback throwing passes his way. This year, he's got a future Hall of Famer to hook up with and it already looks like that partnership will be extremely lucrative for both.
Aaron Rodgers made his New York Jets debut on Saturday in the final preseason outing against the Giants. He found Wilson for three catches, 30 yards and a touchdown in two drives of action.
The pinnacle of their time on the field together was picture-perfect 14-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.
šØAARON RODGERS 1st JETS TDšØ
ā NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2023
šŗ: #NYJvsNYG on NFL Network
š±: Stream on #NFLPlusĀ https://t.co/624TrfDUF6 pic.twitter.com/PSWFIwcLcF
Rodgers-Wilson connection already looking beautiful. Sick vantage point for my buddy and I. š„š„ššš©ļøš#TakeFlight @JetNation pic.twitter.com/HSm4conqrC
ā Dylan Tereman (@DTereman) August 26, 2023
Fans and media alike were swooning over that connection for good reason. Rodgers can elevate Wilson with his arm while Wilson is more than capable of paying off his trust with a smooth catch over solid coverage.
Best memes and tweets from Aaron Rodgers' Jets debut
āAaron Rodgers takes the field for the New York Jetsā pic.twitter.com/HVdABZZBjs
ā The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) August 26, 2023
Aaron Rodgers chemistry with Garrett Wilson already looks identical to what he had with Adams in GB.
ā Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) August 26, 2023
Im not even sure how thatās possible.
The pre-snap non verbal communication. The looks. The timing.
Garrett Wilson created 1.4 yards of separation in that 14-yard touchdown catch from Aaron Rodgers. That's it. 1.4 yards, per NFL's NextGen stats.
ā Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 26, 2023
Rodgers still got in there.
Not bad coverage āĀ good, actually. It just didn't matter. #Jets
Wow, what a pitch and catch from Aaron Rodgers on that TD to Garrett Wilson. Hell of a catch, their timing was perfect. Rodgers didn't even hesitate off the snap to get it to him, one on one, as pressure was about to hit him.
ā Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 26, 2023
Man, that Rodgers-Wilson connection is going to beā¦
AARON RODGERS TOUCHDOWN GARRETT WILSON WOW pic.twitter.com/wcRGXGoVd3
ā š ššš šššæšš¼š« (@NYJets_Media) August 26, 2023
Rodgers to Wilson all season. pic.twitter.com/xxcILWQRau
ā JetsSopranos (@JetsSopranos) August 26, 2023
Good luck stopping Aaron Rodgers to Garrett Wilson this year! What a throw and catch.
ā Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) August 26, 2023
Now take the entire starting offense out. #Jets
Rodgers went 5-of-8 for 47 yards and a touchdown in two drives before he came out of the game. His first pass was to Wilson and so was his last pass.
The opening drive didn't end the way Rodgers or the Jets wanted it to. Gang Green had to punt after a blindside block on the second play of the drive put them in a first-and-18 hole. The quarterback returned to lead a far more satisfying touchdown drive.
The Jets open the regular season on Monday, Sept. 11 against the Bills in New York. It was all well and good for Rodgers to thrill fans with his connection to Wilson in the preseason, but what really matters is what the duo can pull off against Josh Allen and Buffalo.
After a 7-10 season last year, Rodgers' arrival has Jets fans thinking playoffs and more. Now that they've seen Rodgers throw a touchdown in green, those dreams will be even more vivid.