Jared Wilson all about getting comfortable in Year 2, from the playbook to his jersey number

Foxborough, MA - August 4: New England Patriots center Jared Wilson talks to reporters during training camp at Gillette Stadium on August 4, 2025. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images Jared Wilson knows that his first season in the NFL was anything but a walk in the park. The 2025 third-round draft pick may have started 17 games as the New England Patriots’ left guard, but he went through his fair share of rookie growing pains as well.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Now in his second season, however, Wilson is in a different position — both figuratively and literally. It all contributed to him being more comfortable than he was a year ago.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“I definitely had my struggles, for sure. The learning curve, it was a lot,” Wilson admitted after Tuesday’s training camp practice at Gillette Stadium.

class="wp-block-paragraph">That learning curve has begun to flatten now, particularly when it comes to the playbook.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“The big thing was just the playbook,” he said. “Anybody who’s questioning themselves during a play is automatically going to slow down during the play. That was definitely the biggest learning curve, the playbook.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">Better understanding the playbook is a big part of Wilson making strides in Year 2. The same is true for being able to purposefully watch film.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Learning to watch film better,” he said about positive changes to his preparatory process. “Not just watching plays, seeing the play, skip, seeing the play, skip — but actually looking at stuff like stances, how leveraged the linebackers are, if they’re bumped to they’re backside, if they’re bumped frontside. Just honing in on the little things that give away the big things.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">The little things proved to be a challenge for Wilson in 2025, partially because he was learning a new position. This year, the circumstances are different.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite being inserted as the Patriots’ left guard and holding the job throughout the season, Wilson changed positions this spring. With Garrett Bradbury getting traded to Chicago, the road was clear for him to move back to his college position at center.

class="wp-block-paragraph">While that means a return to familiar territory for the 23-year-old, it also means he has to build a rapport with Drake Maye quickly.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“Reps, that’s literally what it is,” Wilson said about establishing the center-quarterback connection. “As many times as you can do it, the better it’s going to get. Just reps and communication.”

class="wp-block-paragraph">Wilson sounded optimistic about his chemistry with Maye, and about going back to center in general. Helping him with that move was another seemingly far less consequential change: after wearing No. 58 on his jersey as a rookie, he has now gone back to the No. 55 he donned at the University of Georgia.

class="wp-block-paragraph">It’s all part of the process.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“I just wanted to go back to 55,” he explained. “I was talking to my wife about it and she thought it was a good idea. I thought it was a good idea, too. Just getting back to being comfortable.”