Robert Saleh quells concerns about Denzel Mims’ usage in practice
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By: Tyler Greenawalt
Robert Saleh laughed when he was asked about Denzel Mims on Tuesday.
The coach said he watched Mims practice with the first-team offense and knew a question was coming about the Jets’ 2020 second-round pick. While he didn’t go into detail on Mims’ usage moving forward, Saleh squashed any misconceptions about Mims’ opportunity share.
“He’s been running with the ones,” Saleh said. “These guys are on rotation… They’re all in the same boat.”
Saleh added that the only three receivers who “roll with the ones unconditionally” are Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole. That’s not too surprising given all three are experienced veterans who have been in similar offenses before. Davis played under Matt LaFleur in Tennesse and Crowder played under Sean McVay; both coaches are disciples of the Shanahan offense the Jets will use a variation of under offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
The rest of the receivers, Saleh said, rotate in and out of the lineup. This includes players like Mims, rookie Elijah Moore, Braxton Berrios and Vyncint Smith – all of whom could make the final 53-man roster.
There have been questions about Mims’ fit in the new scheme after he recently practiced with the second- and third-team offenses just a year after being drafted. Mims looked poised for a big year in his second season after a solid rookie campaign, but instead found himself working with the reserves early in camp. Learning a new system likely played a part in that, as did the time he missed earlier this offseason after contracting food poisoning and losing 15 pounds.
Regardless, Saleh refused to discount Mims just because of a few bad practices and the “narrative” surrounding the receiver. Much like the rest of the young players on the Jets, Saleh wants Mims to continue to work hard, learn and stack positive moments throughout the summer.
“He’s working his tail off,” Saleh said, “and the harder he works, the more he puts in, the more opportunities he’s going to get. He’s part of the rotation.”
