Garrett Wilson injury status confirmed: when will the Jets’ “key cog” be back in action?

The New York Jets have officially shut down Garrett Wilson for the remainder of the season, confirming that the wide receiver will not return from a lingering knee sprain. Head coach Aaron Glenn made the decision clear on Friday, stressing long-term thinking over short-term gains.

Jets being smart with Wilson

“We just wanted to be smart with him because he’s a key cog of what we’re doing here,” Glenn said, explaining why the team opted to keep Wilson on injured reserve rather than push for a late return.

Wilson has missed the last five games after suffering the knee injury and will now finish the year on the sidelines. His final stat line tells only part of the story. He ends the season with 36 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns, numbers that undersell just how productive he was early on. Of those totals, 382 yards and all four touchdowns came in the first five games, before injuries began to slow him down.

The Jets had initially hoped rest and rehab might open the door for Wilson to return down the stretch. Instead, the coaching staff decided the risk was not worth it, especially for a player viewed as central to the franchise’s future.

Shutting Wilson down now gives him a full offseason to recover and reset ahead of 2026. That timeline also aligns with yet another expected change under center, meaning Wilson’s next snap will likely come with a new quarterback throwing him the ball.

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