When the Jets traded for quarterback Aaron Rodgers last year, one of the things they looked forward to was throwing touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson.

Rodgers’ torn Achilles postponed that until this year and the first eight weeks of the season brought more pain than pleasure, but Thursday night’s performance was exactly what they were looking for all along. Wilson made a pair of one-handed catches for touchdowns, including one that put them away for good early in the fourth quarter.

Wilson was initially ruled out, but replays showed his shin was down before he reached the sideline and the play will be a staple of his highlight reel for the rest of his career. It was also a much-needed shot in the arm for a team on a five-game losing streak.

“We had to, and we really wanted to, get in the win columnWilson said via the team website. “To lose so many games in a row, it felt exactly what you would expect. We are better than we have played and tonight it was time to prove that. It is a good victory because it moves us forward with what we have been preaching and talking about within the institution.”

The presence of players like Wilson was the reason the Jets entered the 2024 season with high expectations and they are the reason why their poor start was so disappointing. They are also the reason the door hasn’t been slammed shut on the team, and Thursday night’s win ensured they would stay open for at least a while longer.