Hey, when a top-flight weapon is forced to sit on the couch, it’s only natural that thoughts run rampant and distractions are sought after. Just glance at Garrett Wilson as the prime evidence for that very notion.
On Thursday, Wilson showcased his appreciation for good-old football talk by labeling Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins as “a dog.”
Wilson, 25, is on the shelf with a right-knee sprain sustained in the Jets’ 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London. It was injured thanks to a late and inaccurate Justin Fields pass on an out-breaker near the sideline in crunch time.
Despite returning on Nov. 9 against the Cleveland Browns, he reaggravated the injury, left the game early, and has yet to see game action.
Aaron Glenn’s latest words confirmed that the Jets are, indeed, shutting down Garrett Wilson for the rest of the season. Therefore, the usually conservative social media user has been popping up in certain spots as of late.
Wilson’s appreciation for Cousins stemmed from the veteran quarterback’s strategic words about playing the position (And by the way, everything Cousins said makes all the sense in the world, as Jet X has been screaming about “coverage disguise” for years; but that’s another story for a different day.)
To put it as simply as possible, Cousins, who entered the league in 2012, has witnessed and participated in the evolution of the league’s quarterback and short-passing efficiency.
When Washington drafted him, he had a front-row seat for Robert Griffin III’s read-option offense—alongside Colin Kaepernick’s similar offense (as constructed by Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman). The rule changes of the late aughts emphasized a no-contact coverage sport, coupled with a stern eye on player safety, which put offenses, particularly quarterbacks and offensive coaches, in the driver’s seat.
Cousins took full advantage of the landscape, ultimately leading the Washington Football Team and the Minnesota Vikings to successful seasons.
As Coustins mentioned, however, defenses were forced to adjust. The only way to compete on that side of the ball was to flip game plans around. As opposed to entering the game with a “give-no-inch” attitude, they were forced to choose what was best to give up to the opposition.
The evolution led to today, where disguising pass coverages isn’t just the best way to play, but it’s now the only way to defend offenses. When mediocre quarterbacks can rise to the top of the league rankings at specific points, it is evident to the general public that offensive coaches are having their way with the league (i.e., pure progressions taught in a particular manner).
For Garrett Wilson and New York Jets fans, well, all that’s left today is to wait until 2026 patiently (or impatiently)—and, most importantly, hope a legitimate quarterback comes to Northern New Jersey.