Jeff Ulbrich says if Jets WR Garrett Wilson 'wasn't frustrated,' that would bother me

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Dec 24, 2024

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — It’s the holiday season, but tensions appear high in the Jets locker room following another disappointing loss on Sunday.

After the 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Aaron Rodgers told reporters he can see “who’s on board moving forward and who is ready to get out.”

Minutes earlier, Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson appeared upset with the lack of targets he received during the game.

“I’d like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently,” Wilson said. “That’s out of my control.”

On Monday, Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was asked about Wilson’s frustration, and he said they must find ways to give him the ball.

“If he wasn’t frustrated, that would bother me to an extent,” Ulbrich said. “He is just one of those ultimate competitors that wants the ball. Not for selfish reasons, but from the standpoint that he can help our team win if he does have the ball in his hands.

“From that standpoint, of course, it’s going to be a little bit of frustration just when we lose because he always feels like he is the guy that can win the game for us. I think he has utilized that frustration to this point to push him to be better in every single way. As long as he continues to use that as motivation, it can be a positive.”

A week ago, Wilson expressed his frustrations on the sideline during the victory against the Jaguars after catching three passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand, Davante Adams finished with nine catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

It was a similar story against the Rams on Sunday. During the first 55 minutes of the game, Wilson had just three targets. He eventually finished with six receptions for 54 yards, but four of those were late in the game when the Jets attempted to make a comeback. Adams registered seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.

Wilson’s frustration is nothing new. Last week, he was asked if he would like to remain with the Jets long-term, but he was noncommittal, further fueling trade rumors.

“Gotta just keep manufacturing looks and touches and targets for him,” Ulbrich said. “You have to. And putting him first in progression as often as we can and find him ways to get him open and get the ball.

“He is a guy that we need to find ways to get the ball more often to.”

The Jets culture has been under a magnifying glass recently after last week’s article published by The Athletic pulled back the curtains on the organization. With a new general manager and coach coming during the offseason, the futures of Rodgers and possibly Wilson remain cloudy.

Rodgers’s contract after this season has zero guaranteed money remaining. If he is released, the Jets will incur a $49 million cap hit in 2025.

Wilson is under contract next year, the final year of his rookie contract. However, the Jets will likely exercise his fifth-year option for 2026, projected at around $16.6 million, according to Over the Cap.

As for Rodgers’ comments, Jets safety Chuck Clark said there is some truth to the notion that certain players are packing it in with two games remaining.

“My mindset is that I’m blessed with the opportunity to take the field,” Clark said. “Being able to strap it up and go out there and play. I play for my family that’s watching me, for the kids that grow up where I’m from.

“It’s bigger than just the season is over. Nah, that’s not how I feel. Anytime I take that football field, I’m trying to win, I’m trying to make plays, I’m trying to play for my teammates who sacrifice their bodies and their time, my coaches sacrifice their time and their bodies as well. I want to win football games at the end of the day and there ain’t no quit in me and I can say that personally. I just hope that trickles through the rest of my teammates.”

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