There’s no changing the fact the Jets are 3-6 and their season could be one more loss from being over.
Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson, though, gave the team something to be optimistic about last week when the duo combined for nearly 200 receiving yards — as well as three touchdowns — from Aaron Rodgers in a win over Houston.
They’ve become progressively more dangerous in each of the three games they’ve played together since Adams’ arrival from Las Vegas in a trade, but their relationship began, Adams said, at a dinner they had together in New York prior to last season.
At the time, the two receivers shared a hope of playing together at some point down the road. Wilson peppered Adams about being his favorite player, as well as playing with Rodgers, Adams’ longtime quarterback in Green Bay.
That talk came to fruition when the Raiders acquiesced to Adams’ request to be moved last month, only for the Jets to lose a lopsided game to the Steelers in Adams’ debut, then drop a game to the lowly Patriots in their second game together.
Adams said Thursday what the offense did in the second half in their win over the Texans is what should be expected the rest of the way.
“One hundred percent,’’ Adams said. “I knew the whole time it wasn’t necessarily gonna happen in the Pittsburgh game. I just got here coming off [a hamstring] injury and there are a lot of different pieces. We’ve got to figure one another out. An offense full of playmakers doesn’t always work.”
And when it does, Adams said, “It takes time. People are impatient and want to see it. Hopefully now, I know I feel a lot more comfortable.”
Wilson — coming off his first multi-TD game of the season, which featured his sensational, one-handed touchdown that brought comparisons to Odell Beckham Jr.’s grab again — said the advantages to playing with another star receiver are obvious.
“If you’re a good receiver, you pride yourself on not being guarded one-on-one,’’ Wilson said of the added attention Adams brings to a defense. “And if you’re guarded, you make the play.”
Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson said there were a variety of reasons why the pairing of Adams and Wilson will be beneficial, particularly for Wilson.
“Davante has been awesome for Garrett,’’ Jefferson said. “He’s brought air for [Wilson] to breathe. Now, [defenses] can’t just roll to Garrett. You’ve got to pick your poison now.”
Jefferson also pointed to Adams’ “attention to detail,” both in games and in practice.
The admiration is mutual, as Adams said he was “almost equally” as excited about the prospect of teaming up with Wilson as he was with reuniting with Rodgers when he was traded to the Jets.
It’s something they discussed at their dinner.
“We talked about it a little over a year ago, the potential to do that,’’ Adams said of the meeting he orchestrated between him and Wilson. “We talked about how big a fan I am of his game. He told me I was his favorite receiver. To be able to work with somebody like that … if I’m his favorite receiver, it’s because of the details and work I put in and he’s interested in learning.”
The Cardinals, whom the Jets visit Sunday, have allowed the seventh-most passing yards in the league, so it could provide Rodgers another opportunity to let Adams and Wilson impact the game.
After snapping their five-game losing streak, the Jets still have virtually no margin for error, but if Adams and Wilson play to their potential, it may not matter.
