Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said Thursday that he didn’t need to have a conversation with Garrett Wilson regarding the receiver’s comments earlier this week about working with a different “route tree” this season.
Wilson, who made that comment during an ESPN radio interview, is off to a slow start despite the injury return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers — with 20 receptions for just 191 yards through four games.
Hackett stressed he doesn’t believe Wilson has been used any differently this year, even with the addition of Mike Williams and the improved play of veteran Allen Lazard.
“No, I don’t think so,” Hackett said before Thursday’s practice. “We want to make Garrett the focal point of the offense. 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.”
Sam Darnold isn’t coming to MetLife Stadium this week to face the Jets, instead leading the unbeaten Vikings against his former team Sunday in London.
Darnold, the No. 3-overall pick in the 2018 draft, was traded after three shoddy seasons in New York.
But asked specifically this week if he believes the Jets “failed” him at the start of his NFL career, the 27-year-old Darnold replied: “No. I think I had a lot of opportunities in New York, I always felt like I could have played better there.”
After posting a pedestrian passer rating of 78.3 over his first six years in the NFL — also spending time with Carolina and San Francisco — Darnold has upped that number to 118.3 with a league-best 11 touchdowns during the Vikings’ 4-0 start.
Hackett, the former Packers offensive coordinator, didn’t bite when asked essentially about the trade request by Raiders receiver Davante Adams.
Asked if the Jets could benefit from an unnamed veteran receiver who has familiarity with his quarterback and system, Hackett smiled and said, “Right now, I’m looking forward to getting over to London,” he replied when asked about the star receiver. “We hop on a flight in a couple of hours. That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
C.J. Mosley, who has missed the past two games due to an injury to his right big toe, has been listed as a limited participant in practice the past two days.
Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) was added to the injury report as limited. Rodgers (knee) was a full participant. Morgan Moses (knee) remains out.