Kenyon Sadiq's usage has become another problem the free-falling Jets must address

Back in September, before the New York Jets’ 2026 season turned chaotic, fans had every reason to be excited about rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

Fast forward to the first week of November, and the No. 16 pick has become the latest problem for a dysfunctional Jets team. Sadiq caught a 22-yard pass on Sunday afternoon, more yards than the 21 he had in his previous four games. He has five catches on 13 targets since Week 5, and he hasn’t reached the end zone since his dominant seven-catch, 105-yard outing against the Lions on Sept. 27.

The easy counter is citing fellow rookie Omar Cooper Jr.’s emergence and Adonai Mitchell’s return from a finger injury, but the lack of impact—especially given Geno Smith’s competent play at quarterback—is growing increasingly concerning.

Should the New York Jets be worried about rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq?

The good news is Sadiq has been credited with only one drop, and the Jets haven’t completely lost faith in him; he played 31 snaps on Sunday, the second most he’s played yet, and his 48.4 snap percentage was his highest since Week 4. There are only so many targets to go around, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich hasn’t shied away from using the former Oregon standout as a receiving threat.

So what’s gone wrong lately? You certainly can’t blame Smith, who is completing 69 percent of his passes and owns a sterling 12-3 TD-INT ratio. Granted, he’s also thrown an interception each of the last three weeks, but it’s not like Sadiq is catching balls from Justin Fields or Brady Cook.

Reich and Smith are in an interesting predicament because the Jets’ receiving corps — and that includes the tight ends — is far more talented than you’d expect from a 2-6 team. Sunday offered our best look at Mitchell, and Cooper had a brilliant two-week stretch before the Jets didn’t bother throwing his way against the Raiders. Let’s not forget that Garrett Wilson is on pace for another 1,000-yard season despite his recent frustration. 

The Jets took Sadiq in the first round expecting a dynamic vertical weapon, but he’s been a one-week wonder so far. He’s still drawing targets even when he’s not getting many offensive snaps, yet the numbers are nowhere near what anyone expected.

Minkah Fitzpatrick may have had it right when he said Sunday was the “Jets being the Jets” once again. Perhaps that applies to the rookie class, too: Sadiq isn’t making an impact, Cooper was shut out, David Bailey is injured, and the list goes on.

How soon can Week 18 arrive?

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