NY Jets: Denzel Mims ready to be unleashed in Week 8

It's been a difficult season for NY Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims. A second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mims entered the summer looking to build upon a promising rookie campaign and find a role in the team's new-look offense.

But rather than assume the starting role that most expected he would, Mims found himself plummeting down the depth chart. He's been a relative nonfactor this season, but that could be set to change this Sunday.

With No. 1 wideout Corey Davis expected to miss this week's game with a hip injury, Mims is expected to be given his biggest opportunity of the year.

Mims should step right into a featured role in the offense rotating with the likes of Keelan Cole and Elijah Moore on the outside. After weeks of sitting on the sidelines, he should finally have the opportunity to prove his worth.

Denzel Mims could force the NY Jets to play him with a standout performance

It's hard to figure out what went wrong with Mims. A bout with food poisoning in the summer that resulted in him dropping 20 pounds certainly did him no favors and left him behind the eight ball from the onset of training camp.

But even since then, he's failed to climb up the depth chart for whatever reason.

General manager Joe Douglas and the front office are still clearly high on the former Baylor star who showed flashes down the stretch in his rookie season finishing with 23 catches for 357 yards.

The Jets reportedly turned down trade offers for Mims earlier in the year, despite the second-year wideout falling out of favor with the coaching staff.

Still, last week was an important step for Mims who was active for the first time this season not because of an injury as he earned the nod over Jeff Smith.

Mims has just four catches for 79 yards this season, but those four catches have come on only six targets and 41 offensive snaps. He played a season-high 20 snaps last week and that number should only climb in Week 8 with Davis likely sidelined.

The Jets are beginning to use Mims a bit more, and they'll have no choice but to do so this week. How effective will he be with Mike White throwing him the ball?

That remains to be seen.

Back in Week 5, Mims hauled in two receptions for 33 yards. During that game, left tackle Mekhi Becton, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, sent out a tweet that received some attention.

"Unleash Mims," Becton pleaded, echoing the sentiment of many Jets fans also watching at home. The Jets will hopefully do just that this Sunday.

It's finally Denzel Mims' time to shine.