NFL

Jets happy with cornerback Wilson’s play

When you’re the third cornerback behind Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, there’s not a lot of spotlight to be had.

But Kyle Wilson has impressed in his third training camp, and Revis said he thinks the former first-round pick is ready to make a big leap entering his third season.

“I think he’s having the best camp he’s ever had,” Revis said. “I told him that the other day. I told him to just keep working and getting better, and he’s been doing that. He’s been outstanding out there, and you can see it. You can see the maturity in him out there.

“He’s stepped up a lot, and you can see it. He’s catching interceptions out here, he’s making checks, and he’s competing, and that’s good.”

This spring, defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman told Wilson that despite the presence of Revis, the league’s best corner, and Cromartie, widely considered the league’s most athletic, at the two starting spots, he wanted him to think as if he’s a starter, and compete like a player trying to earn a starting spot.

So far, Thurman has liked what he has seen.

“He’s taken the words and applied them,” Thurman said. “When you do that, as good as Revis and Cromartie are, you’ve got to also look at yourself and say, ‘Hey, I’ve got to maximize my ability,’ and I believe he’s on his way to doing that right now.

“Has he had a good camp? Yes, but it won’t mean anything if he doesn’t carry it into the season and play at the level he has right now.”

Because of the lockout last year — and the lost organized team activities and development time that went along with it for young players such as Wilson — he didn’t make the kind of jump the Jets would have liked from his rookie season to last season. But now, after a full offseason in the Jets program, Thurman said he thinks Wilson is ready to make that jump this season.

“There’s been some inconsistencies, and you expect that from a young guy, and usually you make a tremendous jump from Year 1 to Year 2,” Thurman said. “But the lockout held him back. Now, you can see the jump in him from Year 2 to Year 3 in his comfort level within the defense, and understanding of it.”

For Wilson, that comfort level has allowed him to come into camp able to focus on trying to make as many plays as he can.

“I just go out every day and do my job,” he said. “I take it day-by-day and try to get better. It doesn’t change my focus or anything, because anything can happen out there. I just know I am making plays for this team, being consistent and making the right plays.”

Now, Revis said he feels the Jets not only have one of the league’s elite tandems at corner with himself and Cromartie, but because of Wilson’s improvement, they have one of the best trios of corners in the NFL, as well.

“We feel Kyle can start here, or on any other team in the league at corner,” he said. “We have three number one cornerbacks on the team, so we’re very excited and I tip my hat off to Kyle, he’s been playing great.”