The New York Jets’ rookie receiver had finally made it to the practice field, but he likely won’t be available in Buffalo.
The star-crossed beginning to Denzel Mims’ New York Jets career continues.
Head coach Adam Gase said on Friday that the possibility of seeing Mims make his NFL debut on Sunday is “not looking good”, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Mims pulled a hamstring at the onset of training camp but took to the Florham Park practice field for the first time this week, earning positive reviews.
Optimism reigned that he would be able to contribute to the Jets’ Week 1 tilt against the Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS), but Mims has now reportedly tweaked his healthier hamstring, which will delay his professional entrance.
In Cimini’s report, Gase admitted that he “felt like s—” for Mims.
“It’s a shame because (Thursday), when we were doing routes versus air, I was seeing him really come off the ball,” Gase said. “The way he was running, the way he was executing some of the cuts we were doing, I was getting fired up.”
Mims was chosen with the Jets’ second-round pick (59th overall) out of Baylor in last April’s draft. He earned 1,020 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns en route to first-team All-Big 12 honors. Analysts believe that Mims can become a big-play receiver for the Jets and franchise quarterback Sam Darnold.
With Mims out, the Jets will take only four healthy receivers with them to Buffalo. Slot receiver returnees Jamison Crowder are among the quartet, as are veteran arrivals Breshad Perriman and Chris Hogan, who will line up on the outside. It’s possible the Jets could call upon the practice squad, where veteran Donte Moncrief would perhaps be the most likely option. The Jets may also call up David Fales to serve as a backup quarterback if Joe Flacco (neck) isn’t ready to go for Sunday.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags