In an instant, the electric atmosphere at MetLife Stadium turned ice cold. Jori Epstein’s X-Post sent shockwaves Jets Nation on Monday evening.

“Jets WR Garrett Wilson is on the ground after two defenders hit him in the end zone. Lengthy assessment, even though he is sitting now.” The play unfolded with a heartbreaking drama. A holding call had just negated a Jets touchdown. In the next snapshot Aaron Rodgers found Wilson in the end zone. Victory seemed within reach. Then, in a flash, Bills safeties Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp collided with Wilson from both sides. The ball fell incomplete. Wilson collapsed on the grass.

This wasn’t just any play in any game. The Jets, reeling from a 2-3 start and the shocking firing of head coach Robert Saleh, desperately needed this win. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich experienced a baptism of fire against the always dangerous player Buffalo Bills. Wilson’s appearance as a target offered a glimmer of hope in a season that was on the brink of ruin.

Before the injury, Wilson was seething. He had already racked up over 100 yards, including a touchdown, showing burgeoning chemistry with Rodgers. His route running left defenders in the dust, which even amazed a stone-faced Bill Belichick during the ManningCast. “I can’t believe they left Wilson alone.”

As the medical staff crowded around Wilson, the weight of the moment weighed heavily on him. Would this be the turning point that defined the Jets’ season? Luckily, a few moments later, a collective sigh of relief swept through the stadium. ESPN’s cameras captured Wilson moving and jogging off the field under his strength. However, the drama wasn’t over yet. With the score tied at 20-20 and the fourth quarter approaching, Wilson’s availability remained a question mark.

Wilson’s wild night from climax to breath-holding

Just minutes earlier, Wilson had fans and commentators alike singing his praises. His 14-yard gain early in the second quarter made cornerback Taron Johnson sit up and take notice “downright silly” as one reporter put it. The catch carried Wilson over 50 yards at halftime, extending his impressive season tally of 33 receptions for 292 yards and two touchdowns into the night.

Wilson’s five-yard touchdown grab early in the game perfectly illustrated how important he was to the Jets’ offense. Rodgers made the difference, finding Wilson in tight coverage for a score that briefly gave New York the lead. It was the kind of game that had Jets supporters dreaming of a strong connection between Rodgers and Wilson for years.

The injury scare cast a sharp spotlight on the risks associated with the NFL’s punishing style of play. Wilson’s slender stature makes his fearless play all the more remarkable. His willingness to go over the middle and fight for extra yards endears him to fans, but also leaves him vulnerable to big hits.

As the fourth quarter continued, all eyes remained on the Jets sideline. Would Wilson be able to return? The fate of the Jets’ offense and perhaps the course of their entire season hung in the balance. One thing was certain: By his second year, Garrett Wilson had already become indispensable to New York’s hopes of turning the season around.