He’s only been in the NFL for three years, but New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson has already proven to be among the best in the league. He’s begun his career with three straight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards and he’s only expected to get better in 2025, which is why the Jets’ front office is hoping to reward him and teammate Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner with well-earned contract extensions this offseason.
However, as good as he’s been, Wilson appears to have a nemesis in the NFL. According to a recent Pro Football Focus article written by Ryan Smith, Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has kept Wilson firmly locked up in coverage every time they’ve played.
“Surtain has faced off with New York Jets stud wideout Garrett Wilson in each of the past three seasons and has come out on top each time,” Smith writes. “The most noteworthy matchup was in Week 5 of the 2023 season, with Surtain facing six targets to Wilson and allowing just two receptions for 22 yards with an interception and a 5.6 passer rating against. Over the three games, Wilson caught just five of 10 targets for 58 yards and zero touchdowns.”
Before any Jets fans panic about the future of their WR1, keep in mind that Surtain is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, just the second cornerback to win that award since the legendary Charles Woodson in 2009. Almost nobody can break free of Surtain and score on him, so neither Wilson nor his fans should think that this is a shameful stat.
If anything, this should provide an extra motivation for Wilson in New York’s Week 6 matchup against Denver when the two teams travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. With his old Ohio State teammate Justin Fields now throwing him the ball, and the pair seemingly rediscovering the chemistry that made them such a dynamic duo at Ohio State, maybe this will finally be the year when Wilson can have a good game against Surtain.
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