Garrett Wilson has not yet figured out how to score courtside playoff tickets next to Aaron Rodgers at Madison Square Garden.
But he’s already confident that New York’s newest superstar will help the Jets “put some points on the board and do something special” once their games begin.
“We’ve known what we have in this room, and then you add someone with the accolades that he has and the ability that he has,” Wilson said Wednesday. “We expect to compete with everyone in the league, beat everyone in the league, be one of the better teams in the league.”
The Rodgers Effect — a feeling that anything is possible — is on display in the first week after the blockbuster trade as the Jets take the field in Phase 2 of the voluntary offseason program.
“Seeing him in the huddle is still a surreal feeling,” offensive guard Alijah Vera-Tucker said. “When you have a guy like that — a future Hall of Famer who’s been in the game for so long now — he knows how to handle the huddle, cadence, plays, all that. It’s a lot easier.”
Learning a new playbook this month doesn’t seem like such a hassle when Rodgers and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett combined to produce the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense (31.8 points per game) for the Packers in 2020.
“Everyone is going out to put work in with a smile on their face, knowing there is a lot of learning to do,” Wilson said. “The expectation is high with Aaron. That’s what we want. It’s all the excitement to perfect our game every day. Having him around pushes us to that, for sure.”
Wilson — the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year after an 83-catch and 1,103-yard season—– should be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Rodgers’ arrival, but even the defense is caught up in the moment.
“I ain’t going to lie to you, I was kind of starstruck at first because we warm up right next to each other,” linebacker Quincy Williams said. “I was just like, ‘Hold on, Coach. Let me just take a little minute to take this in and watch a few throws, seeing him in the green.’ Just took that in a little bit and was like, ‘All right, now let’s get to work. So we can get him more opportunities to throw the ball.’”
Rodgers, 39, and cornerback Sauce Gardner, 22, bonded over seven hours together Tuesday — dinner at Carbone paid for by Rodgers before the Knicks-Heat game.
Gardner enjoyed being “in his shadow” as they met celebrities Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and Jessica Alba.
“He’s just a great guy to be around,” Gardner said. “He was just picking on me a little bit for being young. He was like, ‘We’re about to sit by Jessica Alba.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t know who that is.’ He looked at me like I’m crazy.”
Between the jokes and the food, they talked football, and Rodgers vowed to help Gardner — the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year — improve.
Rodgers already drew a favorable comparison between Wilson and his all-time favorite target, Davante Adams.
“We’re new players to him and we’re having our first impression on him,” Wilson said. “What do you want that to be? As far as football players, it’s all about on the field. If you go out there and ball, I think a little higher of you than I did no matter how we first met. That’s kind of how it goes with your teammates. I’m keeping that in mind.”
Wilson noted he couldn’t get Knicks tickets Tuesday night but saw Rodgers and Gardner courtside, and now Wilson has to find a way to get invited.
It’s suddenly not crazy to think a Jets home playoff game could be a hot ticket.
“I’d be lying if I said we add someone of Aaron Rodgers’ pedigree and the expectation doesn’t go up a little bit,” Wilson said. “That’s how it is in this industry. We’re excited to have him and we know what comes with it: We know eyes are on us and we have to back it up every time we take the field, practice or a game. What we know we have. We’re excited to prove that to the world every week.”