rewrite this title Report expands on Aaron Rodgers, Jets’ Garrett Wilson conflict during 2024 season

A report from this past spring revealed that former New York Jets teammates Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson “never saw eye-to-eye” in 2024 when the club finished with a 5-12 record. 

In an article published Tuesday, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt expanded on what went wrong between Rodgers and Wilson leading up to the Jets’ decision to part ways with the future Hall of Famer earlier this offseason, when he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“By the end of last season, Wilson and Rodgers weren’t exactly the best of friends,” Rosenblatt wrote. “A relationship that started with promise ended with each taking subtle shots at each other in press conferences. Privately, Rodgers complained about Wilson’s tendency to freelance on routes, and there was frustration from Wilson — and others — about how Rodgers was funneling targets to Davante Adams, shying away from running the ball and ignoring Wilson in the red zone.”

The Jets became advertised Super Bowl contenders shortly after they acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in the spring of 2023. However, Rodgers went down with a season-ending torn Achilles just four offensive snaps into that campaign. During halftime of the Week 1 game, Rodgers apologized to Wilson regarding the injury that essentially ended New York’s pursuit of a championship.

More recently, Rodgers and Wilson went viral on multiple occasions last summer after cameras captured them engaging in animated conversations during training camp practices. Later that fall, the Jets acquired the previously mentioned Adams. Then they traded receiver Mike Williams to the Steelers, not long after Rodgers criticized how Williams ran a route during a game. 

Adams and Rodgers were first teammates with the Packers from 2014 to 2021. Per ESPN stats, Wilson and Adams shared the Jets’ team lead of seven touchdown receptions for this past regular season. Adams appeared in 11 games with the Jets, while Wilson played in all 17 contests. 

Wilson now has former Ohio State teammate Justin Fields as his QB1, while Rodgers seems to be a popular figure among Pittsburgh players this summer. One wonders if Wilson and/or Rodgers will address stories about their relationship before the Jets host the Steelers in Week 1 of the upcoming season on Sept. 7.