Jets' struggles in Chiefs' loss without Garrett Wilson confirm his elite status

The New York Jets looked just as overwhelmed as many expected when faced with the daunting task of defeating the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 9, a task made even harder by the fact that star wide receiver Garrett Wilson was out due to a concussion.

The Jets may be a bad team, but Geno Smith and the passing game have looked quite fantastic at times, as Wilson's unique separation ability helped give the Jets a reliable safety blanket while opening things up for everyone else. Week 9 illustrated what he means to this offense.

Geno Smith was just 18-32 for 165 yards and was sacked five times. The Jets were in Kansas City territory plenty, but failed to score a single touchdown in the 28-12 defeat. This was a tough situation, but the team went from fairly promising to almost non-functional without Wilson.

New York Jets offense struggles vs. Chiefs without Garrett Wilson

Perhaps the most noteworthy performance from this game was the lack of impact from Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. compared to past weeks. Mitchell went without a catch for the second time in three games since returning from his injury, while Cooper's team-leading 58 yards came on eight catches as the team tried to get him going.

While most of the discourse around Wilson has been related to his target share, games like this illustrate that his biggest impact may be the gravity he possesses. Defenses warp around what he can do, which makes it easier for Mitchell, Cooper, and others to find holes in the opposing scheme and exploit them.

Wilson, whose 5.4 receptions per game and 65.9 yards per game are almost identical to his career averages, has been the subject of unfounded trade speculation from opposing fan bases desperate for a piece of what the Jets have. Weeks like this illustrate why calling him untradable is somehow a major understatement.

The New York Jets must keep leaning on Garrett Wilson in the future

This season has all but crystallized the notion that the Jets will use one of their top picks in the 2027 NFL Draft on a franchise quarterback, likely for whoever replaces Aaron Glenn as head coach. Instead of subtracting players from the equation, the Jets need to push on ahead with a Wilson-led core that has shown it can make some plays when everyone is healthy.

The stylistic contrast between Wilson cutting through defenders on intermediate routes, Mitchell taking the top off defenses with his speed, and Cooper making big plays could be quite difficult to stop, not to mention a 1-2 punch of Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor at tight end. However, Wilson is the straw that stirs the drink, and this cocktail turns quite foul once he is removed.

Wilson may be as important to the success of his offense as any single wide receiver in the AFC, and games without him, like the Kansas City mess, show that No. 5 is who sets both the ceiling and the floor for this team.

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