By admin 
It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. Not so with the matchup this Sunday of the New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson versus the Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed.
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The two adversaries spent three seasons together on the New York Jets. They often faced each other in training, and Wilson called their practice contests “some of the greatest battles I’ve had.” Sunday in Detroit will be their first regular season game against each other.
Reed came to Detroit as an unrestricted free agent after three productive years with the Jets. He was originally drafted out of Kansas State by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He played in San Francisco in 2018-2019, then moved on to the Seattle Seahawks in 2020-2021 and became a starter. He signed a free agent deal to join the Jets in 2022-2024 before heading to the Lions. Detroit targeted Reed in free agency as a replacement for starting cornerback Carlton Davis III, who left to sign with the New England Patriots.
Wilson has 11 catches for 136 yards in the Jets’ first two games, and scored his first touchdown of the season against Green Bay. Wilson and No. 2 Adonai Mitchell are among just four wide receiver pairings that have had 50-plus yards in Week 1 and Week 2. That would be a decided advantage against a leaky Detroit team that has injuries in its secondary, but Mitchell is questionable for the game with a finger injury.
Sunday’s matchup of Wilson and Reed should be interesting. Wilson will attempt to make Reed commit, then abruptly change his route. Reed has described Wilson’s style as studious, in that he watches how defenders handle his release, and then changes up so that his pattern of getting free can’t be discerned.
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Reed is an aggressive defender, certified by his former coach Robert Saleh as someone who is constantly observing how to attack. In the Wilson/Reed practice wars, Reed was used in coverage and zone defense, and used Wilson’s quick releases to sharpen his tracking of the star receiver and others.
The website newyorkjets.com described one of their practice wars in 2024. Wilson beat Reed deep on a slant-and-go and then gained ground after a short sideline catch. Wilson later made two sideline catches in seven-on-seven drills. Then Reed broke up a third-down pass intended for him in team drills.
The key to Sunday’s matchup will be decided early. Students of the game should watch Wilson’s first move and Reed’s counter. If Wilson gets Reed to bite on a slant or short route, he may turn it into a longer route. But veteran Reed likely won’t easily be fooled.
Reed has allowed 197 yards in coverage so far in 2026’s first two games. That generous spread will likely be targeted early by Wilson and quarterback Geno Smith, particularly since Detroit is likely going to be rolling up points on offense.
It should be an intriguing chess match, since each knows what the other is trying to set up. The Jets have a lot of injuries at wide receiver, so Wilson won’t be left one-on-one to wreck the game. Reed is one defender that will make sure of that.
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This story was originally published September 26, 2026 at 12:18 PM.