Garrett Wilson nears return from 2025 knee injury

Garrett Wilson said he feels close to his target level as he returns from a 2025 knee injury, and the New York Jets expect him to be ready to contribute this fall. The wide receiver has been taking part in offseason workouts without reported issues, according to the team. His recovery arrives as the franchise seeks to end the NFL’s longest active postseason drought, which dates to the 2010 season.

Wilson, the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year, remains central to the Jets’ attack and is tracking toward regaining his pre-injury sharpness. He indicated that the next step is rebuilding full comfort in game-speed situations and route timing, an element that only returns through on-field reps. The club views his steady ramp-up as a key variable for an offense that struggled to generate consistency last season.

The 24-year-old has emphasized that while he feels great physically, there is still work ahead before he is fully “back to himself,” according to the team’s website. That framing sets expectations around a progressive return through the summer program and into the fall rather than an instantaneous flip of form. For the Jets, a healthy Wilson helps set the floor for the passing game and forces defenses to account for a true No. 1 option.

Recovery on track for fall

Team officials have noted that Wilson has been able to participate without setbacks during the offseason program. The remaining focus is on regaining rhythm against live coverage, a phase that cannot be fully replicated outside competitive sessions. Barring surprises, the Jets anticipate Wilson being positioned to impact games early in the season.

Wilson’s route craft and after-the-catch threat were foundational to his breakout 2022 campaign, and replicating that standard is his stated goal. The Jets will manage his workload with an eye on sustained availability, aiming to balance conditioning with the contact acclimation he referenced.

Roster moves and quarterback change

New York used three first-round picks in this year’s draft on David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper, moves designed to raise the roster’s overall ceiling. The approach echoes the club’s bold 2022 first round, when the Jets selected Sauce Gardner, Wilson and Jermaine Johnson. While both Gardner and Wilson won rookie-of-the-year honors on their respective sides of the ball that season, Wilson is now the only member of that trio remaining on the roster.

Wilson will also be catching passes from a new quarterback in Geno Smith, who joined the team this offseason. He has described Smith’s ball placement as easy for receivers to work with, a promising sign as the pair build timing. The Jets hope the combination of Wilson’s return, Smith’s arrival and the infusion of first-round talent can underpin a credible push to snap their 13-season playoff absence.

New York will continue tracking Wilson’s progress through the remainder of the offseason program. His workload and chemistry with Smith will be key storylines heading into the fall as the Jets target tangible improvement and an end to the league’s longest playoff drought.