Asked on Tuesday what a successful 2026 would look like, Garrett Wilson did not hedge, qualify or talk about process. “The playoffs, man. No doubt about it,” he said. “Playoffs and then the season restarts and let’s see what happens. Nothing else.”
Garrett Wilson says the playoffs are very realistic for the 2026 Jets and that he thinks it should happen. Now in year five, he missed much of last season with a knee injury and says he has changed how he prepares. The Jets open Sunday at Tennessee.
How attainable does Wilson think the playoffs are?
Very, and he said so without pausing. Reporters followed up immediately to test whether the answer was bravado.
“Very realistic,” Wilson said. “I think it should happen, I’ll say that. It’s our job to go play ball and do it. That’s how I feel about it.”
That sits slightly ahead of where his head coach has framed things. Aaron Glenn has described a ship that is “still turning.”
What has Wilson changed about his own preparation?
The details, mostly. He missed a large part of last season with a knee injury that ended his year, and he describes the time away as having reset his relationship with the game.
“It becomes more about the fine print of it,” Wilson said. “The little things, looking in the mirror after games, after practices, the way you watch film, the way you take notes.” He said he has “mastered” his training.
“I’ve seen everything I need to see out of the guys we have and I’ve done things differently personally to try and play my role to the best of my ability this year to help fill in what was missing these past years to keep us from getting there,” he said. “Something’s going to happen this year.”
Where does Wilson sit in the locker room now?
Senior in tenure, junior in age. Drafted in 2022, he is one of the longest-serving Jets on the roster while remaining younger than the veterans brought in around him — Demario Davis at 37, Geno Smith at 35 and Minkah Fitzpatrick at 29.
The full depth chart and every player page sit on the Jets roster hub.
Why does Sunday carry an edge for him?
He will line up against a defense run by the coach who drafted him. Robert Saleh was Wilson’s head coach when he came into the league, and now shapes the Tennessee side Wilson has to solve at Nissan Stadium.
“The reality is when we go out on the field, all that kind of goes away,” Wilson said. “You think about it, you’re conscious of it, but you’re trained, you’re prepared and we’re excited. We’re dying to get this thing going.”
“I don’t take the field expecting to lose because of what the expectation is out of this facility,” he added. Kickoff and the rest of the year are on the Jets schedule, and his career numbers are on the Garrett Wilson player page.
Frequently asked questions
What did Garrett Wilson say about the Jets playoff chances?
He called the playoffs very realistic and said he thinks it should happen, adding that it is the players job to go do it.
How long has Garrett Wilson been with the Jets?
He was drafted in 2022 and is in his fifth season, making him one of the longest-tenured players on the roster.
Did Garrett Wilson play last season?
He missed a large part of last season with a knee injury that ended his year, which he says changed his perspective on the game.
Why is the Titans matchup personal for Garrett Wilson?
He will face a defense run by Robert Saleh, who was his head coach when he entered the league with the Jets.
Who do the Jets play in Week 1?
The Jets open at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Which veterans are leading the 2026 Jets?
Linebacker Demario Davis is 37, quarterback Geno Smith is 35 and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is 29, all brought in to lead a young roster.