Garrett Wilson was discussing the challenges the Lions present, from their explosive offense to their playmakers on defense.
asserted
Lions → discuss → defense
Take flight with the Jets
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asserted
he → take → field
tRY IT NOWThen, he smiled as he mentioned one of their cornerbacks, former Jets teammate D.J. Reed.
asserted
he → try → cornerbacks
His presence adds another layer — an emotional one — to Sunday’s meeting in Detroit.
asserted
presence → add → Detroit
“That’ll be a fun matchup, getting to go against one of my great friends from early on in my career,” Wilson said after Thursday’s practice.
“He was just competitive as hell, and we would talk about it after.
asserted
we → get → it
I can’t imagine we do much talking after this week,” the standout Jets receiver later added.
asserted
receiver → imagine → week
Reed played a pivotal role early in Wilson’s NFL career.
asserted
Reed → play → career
Their first summer together in 2022, they battled each other in training camp and became fast friends.
asserted
they → battle → camp
Reed had worked his way up the NFL ladder, from being a fifth-round draft pick to signing a three-year, $33 million deal with the Jets in 2022.
asserted
Reed → work → 2022
Wilson was a first-round draft pick who learned a great deal about hard work and perseverance from Reed’s professional journey.
asserted
who → learn → journey
“We ended up being locker neighbors, two lockers down from me.
asserted
We → end → me
The banter we would have, the conversations, he was someone who beat the odds, honestly,” Wilson said.
asserted
Wilson → have → odds
“He was undrafted, got to Seattle and worked his way up the depth chart, and all of a sudden he was a mainstay, cornerback No. 1.
asserted
he → get → chart
Stuff like that doesn’t happen by accident.
asserted
Stuff → happen → accident
“As a young guy, I might not have known what I know now, but I still knew it was special.
uncertain
it → know → what
Every time we [faced each other], he would have something to say about how I could make it better, or ‘G., that was a great route.’
uncertain
that → face → something
Just stuff like that I appreciate and have held on to this point.
asserted
I → appreciate → point
This will mark the first time the two friends see one another as opponents.
asserted
friends → mark → opponents
According to Pro Football Focus, he has registered a 65.4 defensive grade, which ranks 35th among 96 qualified cornerbacks.
uncertain
which → accord → cornerbacks
In two games, Wilson has 11 catches for 136 yards and a touchdown.
asserted
Wilson → have → yards
He has, however, been targeted just 14 times, a number the Jets would like to see increase.
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Jets → target → ?
Opposing teams are obviously looking to take him away.
asserted
teams → look → him
“Watching the film for me, I thought I did what was asked,” Wilson said of the loss to the Packers, in which he had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
asserted
he → watch → yards
That’s the mentality and things are going to shake out how they shake out.”
asserted
they → ’ → ?
The Jets are going to need more out of their offense to pull the upset against the Lions, who boast one of the premier attacks in the NFL.
asserted
who → go → NFL
The Jets were held to 10 points in the second half and overtime by the Packers in a frustrating defeat.
asserted
Jets → hold → defeat
But Detroit’s defense has struggled, allowing a combined 71 points through two weeks against the Saints and Bills.
asserted
defense → struggle → Saints
He will be very familiar with the cornerback defending him.
asserted
cornerback → defend → him
Then again, Reed knows Wilson well, too.
asserted
Reed → know → Wilson
So, who has the advantage?
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who → have → advantage
“It helps both of us.
asserted
It → help → us
It’s one of those things where you have an idea what you’re getting into.
asserted
you → ’ → what
It’s not uncharted waters,” Wilson said.
asserted
Wilson → ’ → ?
“From that point on, it’s how you adjust, who’s gotten better in those two years that we haven’t been together, and who plays the game within the game better on Sunday.
asserted
who → ’ → Sunday
“I’m looking forward to it.
asserted
I → look → it
Great person, great player, and I expect to have a great matchup on Sunday with him.”
asserted
I → expect → him
The Aporia
