Jets Without Adonai Mitchell for Another Week

The Jets are likely to be missing wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for at least one more week.

Coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that Mitchell underwent a “small procedure” on the injured finger of his right hand, despite having previously stated that he hadn’t. This comes as Mitchell was again listed as not participating in practice on Wednesday. Glenn described his status as “week to week,” which often implies, well, he probably won’t be playing.

“The good thing is he’s moving his fingers around really well,” Glenn mentioned. “But I’m still going to put him on this week-to-week deal.”

Mitchell initially hurt his finger during practice on September 24. Glenn had said the next day that he caught his finger on a teammate’s jersey and downplayed the injury. However, the following day, Mitchell was seen with a significant cast or wrap on his hand.

Glenn clarified that Mitchell had waited a little while before opting for the procedure.

This might be the reason the Jets haven’t placed him on injured reserve. “Well, I think he waited about a week, maybe a week and a half, to see how he was progressing, and then we decided to go ahead and get it taken care of,” Glenn explained.

Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots would mark the fourth game that Mitchell has missed. If the Jets had known it would be this long, they could have moved him to injured reserve, creating a roster spot for someone else while he recovered.

Additionally, running back Breece Hall (quad), edge rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle), and offensive guard Dylan Parham (knee) also did not practice, likely ruling them out for Sunday. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq (concussion) had limited participation, which bodes well for his availability this weekend.

Safety Dane Belton (knee) was limited as well, while linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (quad) participated fully in practice.

The Jets did open the practice window for rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on Wednesday, which means they now have 21 days to activate him to the roster. He could potentially play this Sunday after being on injured reserve due to an ankle injury sustained in Week 1 against the Titans.

Glenn expressed the importance of Cooper’s return, stating, “More than anything, it’s about a rookie getting the chance to come back and get the reps he’s missed. That’s the most crucial thing.” He added, “He’s a really good player, but you don’t want any rookie to miss time because those reps are really valuable.”

For the second week in a row, Glenn opted for a walkthrough rather than a standard practice session. When asked why, he simply said, “I feel like it’s best for our team right now.”

On the Patriots’ side, they have reopened the practice window for wide receiver A.J. Brown, who is currently recovering from a high-ankle sprain, though it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to play on Sunday. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, sidelined for the past two games due to a shoulder injury, confirmed he’s playing this week. Additionally, rookie edge rusher David Bailey received the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his impressive three-sack game against the Browns. The Jets have also signed linebacker Troy Reeder to their practice squad.