Former Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson can't believe how lucky he feels to play with New York Jets QB and future hall of famer Aaron Rodgers.
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00:00 New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson joins us today on behalf of Dr. Teals.
00:04 I'm caught up Montana with Sports Illustrated.
00:07 Garrett, we have to start off by talking about Hard Knocks.
00:09 Obviously, the New York Jets are featured in this season of Hard Knocks.
00:12 I want to know what it's been like for you.
00:14 Has it been a distraction? Has it been enjoyable? Tell us.
00:18 It's been enjoyable. It hasn't been, you know, a distraction.
00:20 I feel like, you know, when you have a lot of energy in the facility,
00:24 like we've had the last couple months, you know, there's going to be cameras around anyway.
00:27 And, you know, I know we kind of gave them a hard time initially,
00:30 but the truth is, you know, they've been cool to have around.
00:33 They've made the best of the rookie shows, you know.
00:35 I feel like last year we got off the hook with the way they're coming this year.
00:39 And I feel like that's because of Hard Knocks, you know.
00:40 So I feel like they're doing a great job and, you know, capturing all the relationships
00:45 and it's been, you know, cool to see. In one episode,
00:48 they show kind of the dynamic between you and Soss Gardner competing against one another in practice.
00:53 I'm curious, how does playing against him in practice make you a better player and vice versa?
00:58 Yeah, I mean, I know that he's as good as it gets.
01:02 And for me, you know, it's every rep that I get against him is like,
01:06 all right, you know, let's see. Let's see what works because, you know,
01:08 at the end of the day, those are super valuable reps.
01:11 And I'm so happy that he's on my team, you know. And last year, you know, being a rookie,
01:16 we both came in at the same time and it was really competitive, you know.
01:19 And yeah, I mean, I hadn't seen a corner that good to that point.
01:22 And it was good to get it out of my system early and, you know, get those matchups.
01:26 But it's truly been awesome, you know, working with Soss
01:30 and being able to go at it in training camp. And, you know, like you said, it makes us both better.
01:35 Who talks more trash? Be honest. Soss talks more trash. I talk trash too.
01:39 It's just different, you know. I'm not going to. Soss will talk trash when the ball thrown to the different receiver.
01:44 Like, I only talk trash if I catch it, you know.
01:47 Well, one guy who, of course, is featured very heavily on Hard Knocks is your quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
01:53 When you were drafted, did you ever imagine that you'd be catching passes from a guy like Aaron Rodgers?
01:59 I didn't. I didn't. You know, I've been watching him play for so long.
02:03 That kind of seems like a far-fetched dream, you know.
02:06 So for me, like now, it's like truly surreal. Truly hasn't sunk all the way in.
02:12 But maybe once I hear it over, like the announcer, the PA announcer,
02:15 and they're like, you know, Aaron Rodgers to Gary Wilson for eight yards, then it'll fully sink in.
02:20 But he's been awesome to be around. And yeah,
02:23 I'm just trying to, you know, be a sponge when I'm around him and take advantage of every rep we get together.
02:27 Because, you know, he can sling it like no one I've ever seen.
02:30 And then, you know, off the field, he's so smart.
02:32 And, you know, the way he sees the game is truly one of one.
02:37 So, yeah, I'm blessed. You know,
02:40 I feel like some people have kind of a perception of Aaron Rodgers and who he is based on just stuff that he does off the field.
02:46 But Hard Knocks has kind of shined a light on a different side of him.
02:49 What do you think the biggest misconception is about Aaron Rodgers?
02:54 I don't know. I kind of heard that. I don't know. I don't even know.
02:58 I don't know. He's great. Like I heard a lot of things.
03:00 You know, I heard that, oh, he's not going to talk to you, you know, saying that about the young receiver.
03:05 And that's a misconception because he talks to all of us all the time.
03:10 More than we even, you know, he'll get on JB and then we'll get on Zay, like say what's up to them.
03:15 All that. He talks to everyone, man. So it's just really been great to have him around.
03:19 And I feel like, you know, maybe he just needed a change of scenery.
03:22 No one ever think about, you know, that way. No one ever think about the country.
03:26 You got to think about his mental and stuff. He probably was, you know, bored.
03:30 Yeah. He also seems like he's helped Zach Wilson a lot.
03:33 Zach Wilson just seems a lot more relaxed, a lot more comfortable.
03:36 And I know he mentioned something about that also in this last episode of Hard Knock.
03:40 How have you seen Zach Wilson respond to Aaron Rodgers just being around?
03:46 Zach's been, you know, going about it the right way ever since,
03:51 you know, the first day that Aaron has been there.
03:53 And I know that, you know, he put in some work behind the scenes and he knows Aaron personally.
03:58 And I mean, he knew him before we all knew.
04:01 So I know they have a great relationship, but yeah, you know,
04:05 I feel like he's got a smile on his face every time I see him, you know,
04:08 he's slinging the ball around really well, like really, really well.
04:11 And it's been fun to watch him ball this training camp.
04:15 But yeah, I love Zach and I know that, you know,
04:18 he's got the right, a great head on his shoulders and he's been, you know, going about this,
04:23 yeah, this new challenge the right way. You guys are getting ready to kick off the regular season.
04:27 I want to know what would you define as a successful season for the Jets?
04:32 You know, making the playoffs. I feel like, I feel like making the playoffs is,
04:36 you know, where you always got to start. And then once you're there, you know,
04:38 you got to be hot at the right time. So we talk about it in the facility.
04:42 Coach Hacks talks about it all the time. We got to get hot in December.
04:45 And for us, you know, that means, you know, keep constantly building,
04:49 but we're playing our best football at the end of the season.
04:51 And once you get into the playoffs, then, you know, who knows what will happen.
04:55 And yeah, you know, that's kind of the mindset that we have in the facility.
04:59 Lots of Jet fans are certainly excited. And I know that you've teamed up with Dr. Teals.
05:04 Tell us about your partnership with them.
05:06 Yeah, so Dr. Teals is something I've been using since I was in seventh grade.
05:10 My mom used it and I would always steal her salt.
05:14 And then, you know, as I got older, she ended up just, you know, getting me my own.
05:17 But it's something that had to be a part of my routine because, you know,
05:20 when I didn't use it, I wouldn't feel the same.
05:23 And this, like I said, started in middle school. And, you know, night before each game,
05:27 I would take a hot bath with Epsom salt. And it was, you know,
05:30 the way that I could feel good that next day.
05:33 But, you know, now I'm blessed to be working with them still.
05:36 And it's something that, you know, like I said, I feel like I have to do.
05:42 So I'm truly, you know, excited to be working with Dr. Teals.
05:46 And yeah, I try and, you know, tell everyone that I can,
05:49 that Dr. Teals is something they need to add to their routine to maximize themselves,
05:54 get that full recovery.
05:55 There you go. All right, got to ask you one final question.
05:58 It's a college football question because you went to Ohio State.
06:02 And I'm sure you're aware that Ohio State and Michigan,
06:05 one of the biggest rivalries in college football.
06:07 Ohio State hasn't beat Michigan in two years. This year, they go to Ann Arbor.
06:11 What would it mean to you to see your Buckeyes beat the Wolverines in Ann Arbor?
06:16 I mean, it would be awesome. You know,
06:17 I feel like you say it hasn't been two years, but before that,
06:20 it was like 10 years that we had beat them in a row.
06:24 True. It's going to switch back and I'm confident it'll be this year.
06:28 They're going to handle business up in Ann Arbor. I'm not worried.
06:31 You know, I feel like if they win the game, I'll be, you know, happy,
06:35 but I feel like that's what they supposed to do.
06:37 You know, I was just in the rivalry a few years ago and they're the man.
06:40 So I'm excited to watch that game at the end of the year.
06:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]