The New York Jets head into Week 8 as the NFL’s only winless team, and their offensive difficulties continue. The situation worsens against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, as the team will be without its top two wide receivers, Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds.
Both players have been ruled out with injuries, leaving a depleted receiving corps to support an offense that already ranks last in the league in passing yards.
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How Can the Jets Offense Function Without Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds?
The loss of Wilson, the Jets’ leading receiver, is a major blow. He suffered a knee injury in Week 6 and has not returned to practice. Coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that Wilson will miss his second consecutive game, marking the first time in his career that he has been ruled out for multiple weeks.
Wilson still leads the team with 36 receptions for 395 yards and four touchdowns despite the missed time. His performance earned him a 75.6 impact score and a C grade, ranking him 39th among all wide receivers in PFN’s WRi.
Meanwhile, Josh Reynolds, sidelined with a hip injury, has 11 receptions for 101 yards through five games. His 63.3 rating (D) ranks 73rd among receivers. With both starters unavailable, the Jets must turn to a group of lesser-used players to handle the workload against a Bengals defense that ranks near the bottom of the league against the pass.
Who Will Step Up for the Depleted Receiving Corps?
A few key players will be expected to fill the void left by the injuries.
Arian Smith
Expected to take on a starting role, Arian Smith is a rookie selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He has recorded five receptions for 24 yards this season. During his 2024 college season with the Georgia Bulldogs, he recorded 48 receptions for 817 yards and four touchdowns.
Tyler Johnson
Tyler Johnson will likely see increased opportunities in multiple receiver sets. Through six games, he has 123 yards on seven catches. Johnson signed with the Jets in March and was promoted to the active roster in September. In his five years in the league, he has totaled 83 receptions for 951 yards and four touchdowns since being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Allen Lazard
Veteran Allen Lazard has six receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown this season. Lazard signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in April 2018 as an undrafted free agent before coming to New York in March 2023. Over his eight NFL seasons, he has recorded 235 receptions for 3,117 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Isaiah Williams
The wide receiver could see his first offensive snaps of the year. Isaiah Williams signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024 before the Jets signed him in September of this year.
The Jets also have Quentin Skinner, Jamaal Pritchett, Brandon Smith, Trenton Irwin, and Irvin Charles available on the practice squad to provide depth.
The Jets’ immediate focus will be on managing through these injuries and finding some consistency on offense. Following the matchup against Cincinnati, the team will enter its bye week. That break will provide crucial recovery time for Wilson and other injured players before a possible return in Week 10 against the Cleveland Browns.