https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=zrgEhbwFqw-1518202-7498&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json
The Jets were without two of their wide receivers in Week 2 — one due to a groin injury and the other by choice.
New York listed Denzel Mims as a healthy scratch despite a strong week of practice. Mims played sparingly against the Panthers in Week 1, but made the most of his lone target for a key 44-yard gain with the Jets on the comeback trail late in the game.
Despite his big-play ability, Mims was left to watch on the sideline as Zach Wilson threw four interceptions in New York’s 19-point loss to the Patriots. Robert Saleh provided a rationale for Mims’ absence postgame, circling back to the fact that last year’s second-round pick is just not where he needs to be in Mike LaFleur’s west coast offense and does not bring enough to the table as a special teamer to warrant a spot on the gameday roster compared to the likes of Braxton Berrios and Jeff Smith.
“That’s really up to him,” Saleh said. “He’s got to be better than those guys. That’s the bottom line. We’re an organization that it doesn’t matter. You have to earn your keep. You have to earn your playing time. He’s got to be better than them. As soon as that happens, he’ll be active.”
Braxton Berrios caught seven passes for 73 yards and Elijah Moore caught four passes for 47 yards, but the Jets did not get much out of their other wide receivers against the Patriots. Corey Davis caught just two passes for eight yards and had a pass go through his hands, leading to an interception. Jeff Smith caught a late pass for 35 yards, but that was it for the Boston College product. Keelan Cole, meanwhile, was not targeted in his return to the field.
Wilson would likely benefit from having a deep threat of Mims’ caliber on the field, but Saleh and his coaching staff have yet to deem him ready for action from an overall body of work standpoint. The good news for Mims is that he is making strides on the practice field, making it possible that he receives more consideration from Saleh and LaFleur moving forward.
That might be tough to pull off with Jamison Crowder set to return at some point and Berrios, Cole and Smith ahead of him on the depth chart, but Mims has the natural talent to pull it off.
“It’s a good problem to have all these receivers fighting to be active,” Saleh said. “Denzel, he’ll get there.”