Getty Image
After a clip of him getting lit up after making a catch against the Buffalo Bills went viral, New York Jets star rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson took to Twitter to apparently call out NFL refs for not protecting him the same way they do veteran players.
During the third quarter of the Jets’ loss to the Buffalo Bills, Wilson hauled in a 12-yard 3rd down catch on the Bills’ sideline and was drilled by safety Jordan Poyer as his momentum carried him out of bounds.
On Twitter, Wilson quote tweeted the clip and claimed that he hasn’t gotten “a call all season” and that one ref told him during the team’s home game against the New England Patriots — assuming that Wilson was asking why he didn’t get a particular call in his favor — that this “ain’t Ohio State no more.”
I ain’t got a call all season… one ref told me “this ain’t O State no more.” Crazy 🤦♂️ https://t.co/KquD2oslfU
— Garrett Wilson (@GarrettWilson_V) December 12, 2022
Now, while the idea of veteran, established, and star players getting better treatment from refs is certainly nothing new — whether it be in the NFL or professional sports in general — that ideally shouldn’t be the case when it involves player safety, like the above example.
Wilson — who has 63 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns through 13 games — is making a case for offensive rookie of the year, especially since Mike White was installed as the team’s starting QB. In the three games started by White, Wilson has racked up 19 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns. Comparatively, in the seven games started by former #2 overall pick Zach Wilson, Garrett Wilson had 26 catches for 319 yards and ZERO touchdowns.
It should perhaps be obvious why he went to bat for White following the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, which saw the Jets’ signal-caller battle through multiple apparent rib injuries.
“Mike White has got a lot of heart. He’s gonna lay it on the line for his boys, & I would do the same for him,” the rookie pass catcher told reporters following the Jets’ 20-12 loss to the Bills, which dropped their record to 7-6.
"He's got a lot of heart. He's gonna lay it on the line for his boys. I would do the same for him."
– Garrett Wilson on Mike White pic.twitter.com/47w6RzxcpN
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 11, 2022
To close out the 2022 season — which sees the Jets with a shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2011 — Wilson, White, and Gang Green will face off against the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Miami Dolphins.