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Rich and prosperous Cimini, essayist for the ESPN workers’ group
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – In the fourth quarter, with his team’s season on the brink of collapse, wide receiver Garrett Wilson threw OBJ 2.0: a stunning one-handed catch that propelled the New York Jets to a 21-13 lead. over the Houston Texans on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
Wilson’s 26-yard touchdown, his second of the game, was the talk of a jubilant postgame storage room. Some players said it reminded them of Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic catch for the New York Giants 10 years ago in the same stadium (same goal zone, other side).
Others described it as Michael Jordan-esque. In fact, Wilson, in the air, looked like the Jumpman logo, his legs cracked and his right hand raised in the wind as he grabbed an Aaron Rodgers snap on third-and-21 in front of Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
“It looked like it was Jordan,” he mentioned Javon Kinlaw’s defensive vision. “Incredible.”
Initially ruled incomplete because Wilson suffered only a base illness, the Jets won a replay challenge and then officials ruled that his left shin landed infield behind the top zone. According to basic principles, one shin is equivalent to two toes.
“Oh my gosh,” said interim lecturer Jeff Ulbrich. “I mean, I was talking to the referee when they were reviewing it. I thought, ‘Just for the sake of posterity, you have to leave it like this so it goes down in history.’ It would rival Odell’s sack. It was unbelievable.”
Wide receiver Davante Adams said he didn’t watch the replay until later in the game. He joked with Wilson about the closure, telling him that it matched the Jumpman brand so much that he might have to change his sponsorship.
“I told him he could be kicked out of Adidas after that,” Adams said. “That one looked like it was headed to Jumpman with me. Let’s see. I’m going to talk to some people about that. I’m not going to say they’re going to replace the logo because Mike might not like me saying that, but it was a tough trick.” .
Not only was it acrobatic, but it was notable, as the Jets (3-6) snapped a five-game losing streak to salvage their collapsing playoff hopes. Then, in a vile first half, the Jets scored a touchdown on their final three drives to extend a must-have digital victory.
Wilson, who had a major loss in a Pace 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, finished with nine receptions for 90 yards. His first landing, from 21 yards, was also a one-handed grab. That was great, but his second landing could become a turning point in the season.
“I thought, ‘That’s a good one, that’s a good one. And it has to count,'” Wilson said. “I remember telling everyone, ‘I’m getting gassed up too early. This has to count, everyone, let’s relax.’ Once it counted, I said, ‘Yeah, okay, now everyone can tell me anything.'”
Wilson was 14 years old when Beckham made his legendary catch against the Dallas Cowboys. Wilson was once at his audience’s home in Texas, watching along with his father.
“Man, Odell was different,” Wilson mentioned. “He got two feet down. The ball was going to fall out of bounds, and it was Odell, man. It was Odell against the Cowboys. That was the one. So for this to come up in that conversation, I’m blessed. I’m honored. “
Wilson’s landing gave the Jets a 14-10 lead with 12:54 left. The clincher came when Rodgers (22 of 32, 211 yards) threw his 1/3 scoring snap, a 37-yard pass to Adams for his first receiving landing since being traded by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rodgers admitted he was “terrible” in the first phase, throwing for a near career-low 32 yards. The low point came when rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley, in his first NFL pick-up, fumbled out of bounds for a touchback, a big mistake.
Corley, who was given the ball on a jet sweep, had a sunny path to the top zone, but held off the ball before crossing the goal line. He celebrated as if he had made his first landing, but a replay review showed he was fit.
Rodgers called it a “silly” game. Corley did not stay to discuss it and left before the media was allowed into the storage room.
Ulbrich admitted that he was once “definitely frustrated, to be honest, and angry at the same time. But what an incredible opportunity for this kid to learn and grow. I promise you that in 10 years, when he’s still playing in this league.” , that will never happen again.”
The Jets later trailed in a sloppy, listless first half, but Wilson later scored. And he scored again, with a catch that will be talked about for a long time.
“Yeah, that’s up there,” Wilson mentioned. “Just since the stage is going, it’s in the NFL. But when I was in Little League, man, I used to have some catches now. Really, bro. So I felt like I was going back to those days a little bit. “
