Better than Odell? Jets’ Garrett Wilson sparks debate among teammates with outrageous TD catch against Texans

From high above the field at MetLife Stadium, it looked like the Jets were going to watch one more opportunity — and perhaps any hope of salvaging their season — slip quietly into the night.

Aaron Rodgers’ pass on third-and-19 early in the fourth quarter was falling quickly toward the post in the back left corner of the north end zone. And when he got over the goal line, Garrett Wilson was still on the ground a few yards into the end zone, battling for space with Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter, looking back at a ball that seemed destined to sail high over the team’s left shoulder . receiver.

And then it happened.

Wilson launched into the sky off his right foot, rolled his shoulders back toward the pass and fully extended his right arm above and behind his head to catch the ball with one hand. He fell to the ground in a way that seemed to defy biomechanics, planting his left foot into the turf long enough to stop his forward motion as he looked down and tried to keep both of his feet in bounds before to slip through the back of the end. area.

It took less than a second from takeoff to landing. But Wilson will answer questions about it for the rest of his life.

Yes, his 26-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ 21-13 comeback win against the Texans was that good.

It was so good that it immediately drew comparisons to a legendary touchdown catch made in the same stadium, on the other side of the same end zone, by a young receiver for the other hometown team nearly a decade ago.

“It would rival Odell’s (Beckham, Jr.) catch,” Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said, recalling the Giants star’s one-handed catch against the Cowboys in November 2014. was amazing”.

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Wilson’s catch was the talk of the sports world Thursday night and into Friday morning. And it was no different in the Jets locker room, where the coach and players found themselves weighing in against Beckham’s legendary grip. Many of them without even being asked.

“This is the catch of the year,” cornerback DJ Reed told SNY. “There’s not even a catch to come—that’s better than the Odell catch! True. I’ve never seen anything like this live bro. For this to be Thursday Night Football, at prime time. Garrett is that guy.”

Others weren’t ready to give Wilson that kind of credit before breaking into the gang.

“That catch (is) up there with Odell’s,” cornerback Sauce Gardner said. “I’m not just going to say it’s better than Odell’s, but it’s up there. I really need to revisit Odell’s (catch). But that was a great catch, man.”

Tyler Conklin wasn’t willing to go there either.

“I don’t know which one was better,” Conklin said. “They’re both pretty damn good catches.”

But Conklin, who was standing just feet away from Wilson when he made the catch, said it was the best catch he’s ever witnessed live. And that’s significant, considering Conklin earned a front-row seat during Justin Jefferson’s first two years in the league as a teammate with the Vikings.

“Justin Jefferson is pretty good,” Conklin said. “But I don’t think I’ve seen a catch like that. Not in person.”

So what did Wilson think of the catch compared to Beckham’s?

“Man, Odell’s was different,” Wilson said with a smile. “He went down two feet. The ball was apt to land out of bounds. And it was Odell, man. It was Odell against the Cowboys. That was it. So to appear even in that convocation. i am blessed I am honored.”

But as one reporter pointed out, the Giants lost that game to the Cowboys.

“You know what? Okay,” Wilson said with a laugh and a nod. “Fair enough. Fair enough.”

Wilson also came up in the fourth quarter of a must-win game for the Jets. Beckham came in the second quarter of a game the Giants lost to fall to 3-8.

But Beckham’s catch was 46 yards longer than Wilson’s 26-yarder, and he was interfered with and still brought the ball down, and there was no doubt he put both feet in bounds for the touchdown.

Wilson’s catch was ruled incomplete on the field in real time, leading to some tense moments on the sideline after Ulbrich threw the challenge flag to put the game in review.

“I was just, ‘S—, I needed it,'” Conklin said of his immediate reaction. “It was a big play. Third and long. We need that touchdown. At first, excitement. Then everyone was like, “Oh, shit. is it good Isn’t that good?’”

Wilson’s instincts told him it was an immediate hit. He got up and started celebrating with Conklin. And then he saw the official giving the incomplete sign and began to worry. And watching the game again on video boards in the stadium didn’t ease his worries.

“Honestly, looking at the replay, I didn’t know if they were going to call that one to be honest,” Wilson said. “I said, ‘I hope one counts, I hope it’s not one of those I have to be like what if.’

But Ulbrich knew why Wilson wasn’t very sure, he just needed his shin (not his knee) to land in bounds for it to be a touchdown. And that’s why he felt confident throwing the red flag after seeing the immediate replays.

“With the shin,” said Ulbrich. “I thought it was close enough to challenge for sure.”

But it was also close enough for Ulbrich to lobby while the piece was being revised. And it was the Beckham catch that came to mind when he did it.

“I was talking to the ref while they were reviewing it,” Ulbrich said. “And (I) said, ‘Just for posterity’s sake, you have to say that’s it. Just to remain in history”.

We all know what prompted the review. Only time will tell how Wilson’s catches share with Beckham’s in history.

But regardless of where that debate lands, there’s no arguing: For this year’s Jets, at the end of this miserable month, one of the biggest catches in franchise history to help secure a win they needed , is good enough.

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Andy Vasquez can be reached at [email protected].