Garrett Wilson hated to see trades, but trusts Jets’ vision and excited to return after knee injury

FLORHAM PARK N J AP Garrett Wilson is fired up to be back on the field for the New York Jets This week has been anything but normal though for the star wide receiver Not when he no longer sees Sauce Gardner lined up against him in practice Or Quinnen Williams anchoring the defensive line My emotions like that side of it I hate it Wilson reported Thursday two days after the Jets made two massive trades I hate it You know what I m saying I play football I play with my brothers I get to know my brothers I hate it But I m paid to play football No one cares if I hate it Go catch the ball That s how I see it and that s what I m going to do I m going to do my job to the best of my ability so they feel like they can keep us all together That s the reality of this thing You don t win games things change Wilson and Gardner bonded three-plus years ago when they were first-round draft picks of the Jets within hours of each other They were the NFL s rookies of the year Wilson on offense and Gardner on defense The two received massive contract extensions this summer and seemingly appeared to be cornerstone pieces of what general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn were trying to build Until the Colts made the Jets an offer they couldn t refuse Indianapolis sent a first-round draft pick in and another in along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to New York for Gardner It s something I m still getting used to man Wilson announced I mean I don t know being in this facility without Sauce around until these last couple of days right It s going to be an adjustment for me A limited hours later the Jets traded Williams another foundation piece to Dallas for a second-round pick in a first-round selection in and defensive tackle Mazi Smith I mean I was shocked man Wilson declared I was shocked And obviously just kind of a reminder of the business that we re in Just a reminder of this match and not taking the times you get to play with your boys for granted But yeah man I ll make sure I talk to them boys send them a text nothing too crazy and I m excited to see what they finish the season out like Wilson is also looking forward to how the rest of this season will go for him and the Jets He s expected to play against Cleveland on Sunday after missing the first two games of his NFL career with a knee injury that first appeared could sideline him for several more weeks if not longer For me how much of that relief was it I mean a lot of relief bro I ain t gonna fake it Wilson reported Stuff like this keeps me up at night And granted I stayed away from that but the things that I thought initially that first day I stayed away from that and I m thankful for it And for me maybe it was good for me I ve never been injured in my whole career Maybe it was good for me to realize that you ain t gonna be out there every week go about it the right way every play is super fundamental Maybe I was taking it for granted a little bit and I m back to my old solutions I m excited to go back out there Wilson was listed as limited at practice for the second straight day Thursday a positive sign for his chances of playing The Jets - won - at Cincinnati on Oct a comeback accomplishment in which they played without Wilson and Gardner who was sidelined with a concussion New York will try to get a second in a row and as Wilson put it my first win of the year New York s roster has two fewer stars now Wilson remains even if playoff chances have long faded for this season The hope is that the two moves will product in a lot more winning in the future I ve got to do my job Wilson revealed I get paid to catch passes block help my teammates out make plays They get paid to do that No one cares what I think you know what I m saying I m gonna go play football And I m excited man I m excited to go at this thing and chase you know they have a vision Like I stated I don t get paid to have a vision They do And you know they ve got one And I ve got to trust em man I do AP NFL https apnews com hub nfl Source