Jets pick up wins off the field; now, they need to go get some on the field

PITTSBURGH — The Jets’ transformation from a last-place laughingstock to contender is still not complete. The events of this week have raised expectations again and probably had some jumping back on the bandwagon.

The Jets added a perennial Pro Bowl receiver and got their two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher to end his holdout In a matter of six days.

Davante Adams was acquired from the Raiders on Tuesday. He made his Jets’ debut Sunday night against the Steelers. Haason Reddick, who the Jets traded for in March, will finally report on Monday.

The season hasn’t started the way the Jets expected. They were 2-4 heading into Sunday’s game, but there’s still plenty of time to change things and make a playoff run.

All eyes were on Adams and Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night, though. After a 2 1/2-year separation, they again took the field as teammates.

They hoped to pick up where they left off and do for the Jets what they did most of their time together in Green Bay. They were 33-9 in games both played from 2019-21 and reached two conference championship games.

“A lot of the success me and Aaron had is because we were on the same page,” Adams said. “He understands how I see the game and how I see the ball thrown and all those things.”

The Jets were 2-14 in 2020, the year before Robert Saleh arrived. Saleh helped put together a roster that many believed could snap the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought and contend for a Super Bowl. This was before the Adams’ acquisition.

Saleh was fired on Oct. 8. The Jets never lost hope that they could have a good season. Adams and now Reddick have refueled that fire.

Neither one is the savior, just as Rodgers wasn’t when the Jets acquired him last year. The Jets need the offensive line, their run defense and kicking game all to improve, and they need to commit fewer penalties.

Both could give the Jets a lift, though. Reddick’s presence could take double-teams away from underperforming Quinnen Williams and enable him to be more disruptive.

Rodgers and Adams together could help lift the Jets’ struggling offense. Adams can help with some of the Jets’ issues that Rodgers didn’t often have when Adams was his No. 1 target.

“Tae’s been a monster the red zone over the years,” Rodgers said. “A lot of on-schedule and off-schedule touchdowns. I think he can help teach the young guys who are willing and eager to listen and learn because he’s a master of route running and releases and always working on his craft.”

Garrett Wilson is the primary young guy Rodgers was referring to.

The Jets want Wilson to continue to be featured now that Adams is on the field with him. The Jets are all-in for this season, but Wilson is more a part of their future than the much older Adams and Rodgers. Winning is the most important thing. Making sure Wilson is happy and wants to remain a Jet is imperative, too.

After the Adams acquisition, Wilson tweeted “We gotta GO, and we gotta do it NOW!”

This rings true even more now if the Jets want to make something of this season.

Two-minute drill

Receiver Mike Williams was active. There have been rumblings about the Jets trading him, perhaps to the Steelers. Those talks could pick up again Monday.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.