NY Jets: Denzel Mims being given a golden opportunity in Week 4

It hasn't been an ideal sophomore NFL season for NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims — far from it. But Mims has an opportunity to make an impact this Sunday and remind everyone why he was such a highly-touted prospect in the first place.

Facing the Tennessee Titans in Week 4, Mims is expected to be active for only the second time this season. And he should be given a chance to receive more snaps this week than he did back in Week 1.

The Jets will be without both Elijah Moore and Jeff Smith in this week's game as both players are sitting out with a concussion. Keelan Cole is expected to slot in alongside Corey Davis as the starting outside receivers.

But behind them, Mims is the only viable backup option on the boundary. He should receive his fair share of playing time.

The NY Jets will likely give Denzel Mims a chance to make an impact in Week 4

The Jets will see the return of Jamison Crowder this week after he sat out of their first three games. Crowder missed Week 1 after testing positive for COVID-19 before a groin injury kept him sidelined for the next two weeks.

Crowder's return will provide a spark to the Jets' offense, but he isn't necessarily a threat to Mims' playing time. Neither is Braxton Berrios who operates almost exclusively out of the slot.

The Jets will have pretty much no choice but to play Mims on Sunday. That's good news for those who have been pining to see him in action.

A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mims showed promise down the stretch and looked to be locked into a starting role heading into the 2021 season, even after the offseason additions of Davis, Cole, and Moore.

But for whatever reason, he found himself plummeting down the depth chart this summer and was a healthy scratch in each of the last two weeks.

That's in the past now, however. Mims will be given an opportunity to prove to the coaching staff that he deserves a larger role moving forward.

Mims must maximize the playing time he gets. If not, he's likely bound for the bench again next week.