Jets’ Denzel Mims will be active against Titans

Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced good news for the #FreeDenzelMims crowd in his Friday morning press conference. After two weeks of being a healthy scratch, Saleh confirmed that Mims, a second-round draft pick in 2020, will be active in Sunday’s game against the Titans.

Mims played in just three snaps in Week 1 with one catch for 40 yards, the longest reception of any receiver so far this season. His opportunity comes with both Elijah Moore and Jeff Smith in concussion protocol. Receiver Jamison Crowder also returns from a groin injury.

“He’s going to get some opportunity. Hopefully he takes advantage of it, and we’re expecting him to,” Saleh said. “He’s stacked up a third consecutive week of great, deliberate practice. He’s really getting comfortable within the offense. We’re excited to see him get his opportunity.”

Braxton Berrios and Corey Davis have been the Jets’ top two receivers — 14 catches and 150 yards for Berrios, 12 catches and 146 yards for Davis, who has the Jets’ only two touchdown receptions. Moore, a second-round draft pick, has been the Jets’ third-most productive receiver with eight catches for 66 yards. When asked why Mims was scratched after a Week 2 loss to the Patriots, Saleh pointed to his lack of versatility among different receiver positions and having no experience on special teams.

“For (Mims), really, it was the Z and the X. The F, I mean we have enough F’s, right? We got Elijah, you got (Braxton) Berrios, you got Jamison. But he’s comfortable in those spots and we’re comfortable to use him. Again, it’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t even need to talk to the coach anymore,” Saleh said. “He’s just on the football field, he’s getting himself lined up and you’re seeing the speed and the athleticism that he has. So, just a matter of getting him those opportunities, taking it to Sunday and executing with his teammates and being the guy that we expect him to be.”

Mims missed most of the offseason after a bout of food poisoning, losing 20 pounds after eating some bad salmon. Injuries limited his rookie season to nine games. He finished with 23 receptions for 357 yards.

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Joey Chandler may be reached at [email protected]