Jets’ Garrett Wilson addresses 'harder conversations' with Aaron Rodgers

Much was made in late July about New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and young wide receiver Garrett Wilson having animated conversations following plays early into training camp.

The two have since insisted things between them are just fine, and Wilson once again touched upon his interactions with Rodgers while speaking with reporters on Thursday.

"You definitely got to talk about it," Wilson said about his working relationship with Rodgers, as shared by Brian Costello of the New York Post, "and being able to have some harder conversations, being able to have conversations where he’s telling me what he wants and I’ve got to listen to that and I weigh in on how I feel and then we come to a decision together."

Wilson recently admitted he needed to improve being "at that spot right on time" because Rodgers "puts the ball where it needs to be every time" via pinpoint passes. That comment served as a reminder that Wilson and Rodgers haven't really played together as teammates in a meaningful game considering the future Hall of Famer went down with a season-ending torn Achilles four offensive snaps into New York's Week 1 contest last September.

"It’s kind of just spending time together and playing, you know, you start to build this chemistry, this understanding for how he goes about his and how I go about mine," Wilson continued while speaking about Rodgers. "...It happens naturally. So, you know, I wouldn’t say we were putting like, extra thought into it. At this point, we feel like we’re in a good spot."

As Sarah Effress pointed out for Sporting News, Rodgers indicated during a midweek appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN that he doesn't "need" to play in any preseason games this month. Thus, he may not throw a pass to Wilson against a live defense until the Jets open the campaign on "Monday Night Football" at the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.

"When you got him in front of you and all of a sudden you’re like, this dude can throw anything, he can throw it anywhere," Wilson added about playing alongside Rodgers. "For me, it feels like pure football. It feels like I’m a kid again ."

The Jets enjoying those vibes in August is only a positive for the club, but Wilson knows all too well how quickly things can fall apart in an instant for even an advertised Super Bowl contender. In short, Wilson and Rodgers becoming a dynamic one-two punch won't mean much for the 2024 Jets getting to where they want to go if the 40-year-old can't stay in the lineup through the bulk of the season.