NY Jets: Denzel Mims could miss Sunday’s game with a personal issue

NY Jets’ wide receiver Denzel Mims could miss Sunday’s game with a personal issue.

The NY Jets could be without one of their top offensive playmakers this Sunday as Denzel Mims‘ status for Week 14 is currently up in the air.

Head coach Adam Gase revealed on Wednesday that Mims would not be practicing as he dealt with a personal matter. This seemed to support an earlier report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that indicated the same thing.

Rapoport reported earlier in the day that Mims was “dealing with a family emergency” and had left the Jets’ facilities in Florham Park for his home in Texas.

It’s unclear what the emergency is and when Mims might return to the team, but even if he does fly back to New York later this week, it’s likely he might not be able to play anyway.

This is due to the league’s COVID-19 protocols that would require back-to-back negative tests which might make it very difficult for Mims to be cleared in time for Sunday’s game, depending on when he returns.

The NY Jets have been very impressed by Denzel Mims this year

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mims has been very impressive in his rookie season since returning from injury. A hamstring injury forced him to miss all of training camp and the first six weeks of the season, but he’s since made up for lost time.

Mims has 19 catches for 324 yards in six games and is one of just six wide receivers in NFL history with 40+ receiving yards in his first six career games.

Currently Pro Football Focus‘ third-highest graded rookie receiver, fellow rookie Mekhi Becton is the only Jets offensive player to receive a higher grade than Mims. It’s fun to ponder how good he could be with better quarterback play and an improved offensive system.

If Mims is forced to miss this week, the Jets will likely ask Jeff Smith to start in his place. We might also see some more of Vyncint Smith who was a healthy scratch this past week.

The Jets also have the likes of Lawrence Cager, Josh Malone, Jaleel Scott, and D.J. Montgomery as options on the practice squad. Cager and Malone are the only two who have played in games this year.

The Jets hope that Mims will be able to suit up this Sunday, but what’s most important is that he handles business at home first.

Football will always come second to family.