The New York Jets return from their Week 9 bye looking to build on their win from two weeks ago. Garrett Wilson has been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury in Week 6. Can the Jets and fantasy football managers alike expect the stud wide receiver to finally return for their Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns?
Garrett Wilson Injury Update
Wilson sustained a hyperextended knee during the Jets’ Week 6 loss to the Denver Broncos in London. What initially looked like a mild injury has now kept him out for three weeks. Despite the team’s insistence that the injury wasn’t serious, Wilson missed two straight games before the bye and has yet to return to practice.
The expectation when Wilson went down was always that he would rest for two games, get the bye for an extra week of recovery, and return in Week 10. Head coach Aaron Glenn declined to rule Wilson out early in each of the two weeks prior to the bye. Even though Wilson was never going to play in those games, the fact that the team maintained some optimism about his potential availability is actually encouraging.
While the Jets have not offered an updated timetable, all reports continue to highlight that Wilson avoided any structural damage and shouldn’t require a long-term absence. The timing of New York’s Week 9 bye worked perfectly in Wilson’s favor. The extra rest provided him with a third full week of recovery, which aligns with the initial ‘couple of weeks’ timeline reported by Adam Schefter after the injury occurred.
New York has every reason to proceed carefully with its young star, especially considering they’re already playing out a lost season. However, the matchup against Cleveland in Week 10 falls three weeks after the injury and offers an ideal opportunity for the receiver to return.
Speaking to reporters, Glenn said Wilson will practice this week. This is obviously great news and indicates the Jets and fantasy managers are very likely getting their top receiver back in Week 10.
Wilson Fantasy Outlook
Wilson’s absence has further exposed the Jets’ struggling passing attack, which has failed to generate any consistency without him. Through six games before the injury, Wilson led the team with 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns, ranking as a reliable WR2 option despite uneven quarterback play.
The Jets saw improvement in Week 8 against a weak Bengals defense. But in the two weeks prior, the Jets’ aerial offense averaged just 148 yards per game and has lacked an explosive element on the perimeter. None of the team’s replacement receivers have made a meaningful impact.
Wilson’s expected Week 10 return should immediately reestablish him as the focal point of the passing game, especially with the Jets still seeking their first win of the season. His target share before the injury hovered around 30%, and that elite usage cements his value as an automatic fantasy starter once he’s active again.
Fantasy managers holding Wilson should feel optimistic about his Week 10 prospects. The three-week recovery period matches the initial projections, and the schedule sets up favorably for a return against Cleveland. Barring any unexpected setbacks from today’s unofficial practice, he should reclaim his WR1 role and provide a much-needed spark to both the Jets and fantasy lineups nearing the playoff stretch.