As Davante Adams trade rumors heat up, Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett keeps his focus on his current star receiver, Garrett Wilson
Wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders and wide receiver Garrett Wilson #17 of the New York Jets talk on the field after the Raiders' 16-12 victory over the Jets at Allegiant Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Credit: Getty Images
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Nathaniel Hackett was asked on Thursday about two seemingly unhappy star receivers: the one he currently coaches and the one he might soon coach again.
Reports continue to connect Davante Adams of the Raiders to the Jets in a potential trade that would reunite Adams with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Hackett, who was their offensive coordinator in Green Bay from 2019-2021. NFL Network cited multiple sources on Thursday morning saying the Jets are Adams’ preferred destination, although he would be open to other teams, including the Saints, Bills and Cowboys.
Jets coach Robert Saleh said on Wednesday that the Jets will “look at everything” regarding a trade. Rodgers has been on record repeatedly regarding his desire to play with Adams again. Hackett, though, insisted he isn’t focused on that possibility.
“Right now I’m looking forward to getting over to London. That’s all I’ve been thinking about,” he said before Thursday’s practice and the flight to England to face the Vikings on Sunday.
As for third-year receiver Garrett Wilson, who seemed to express criticism of the Jets’ schemes in a radio interview earlier this week, Hackett said he does not feel the need to have a conversation with him. Hackett chalked up Wilson’s slow start to ironing out chemistry with Rodgers.
“We want to make Garrett the focal point of the offense,” he said. “We want to be sure that we are targeting him and getting him the ball, kind of setting things up for him . . . We want to be more creative with getting him all over the field.”
Wilson has a team-high 20 catches and 34 targets this season but has only 191 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Wilson said in the radio interview that the Jets do not “mix it up” the way he sees other teams doing. He has not been available to reporters in the locker room this week.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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