Jets Still Plan on Feeding New Pass Catcher After Lackluster Debut vs. Pats
The New York Jets needed someone to step up with Garrett Wilson being placed on injured reserve. Instead, their new pass catcher, Adonai Mitchell, stepped back against the New England Patriots.
Mitchell was targeted six times, but he only came down with one reception for 10 yards. “He dropped two passes, including a deep ball on [Christian] Gonzalez that would’ve gone for at least 40 yards,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini shared on Sunday, November 16.
It was a disappointing debut in a lot of ways for the 23-year-old wide receiver who was acquired in the blockbuster trade for Sauce Gardner. However, there were also flashes of why the Jets demanded he was in the deal in the first place.
“Mitchell ranked 1st in the NFL in Average Separation Score heading into Week 10 of the 2024 season, with a score of 0.667 after Week 1 (minimum 15 routes) and 0.360 through early October,” per Pro Football Focus. “[Average Seperation Score] measures a receiver’s ability to create space from defenders across all routes run, not just targeted plays. His consistently high ASS underscores his elite separation ability.”
That was on full display against New England in Week 11.
Mitchell Will Be One of the Top Players to Watch for the Rest of 2025
The Jets have seven games left in their 2025 regular season.
Mitchell might have had a bad debut, but that won’t stop the coaching staff from feeding him the ball.
“Listen, he is a big, fast — he is going to be a good player for us. I mean, he missed some balls today, I think we all saw that — him being here for two weeks and having truly a week of going out there and practicing, we gotta get him back out there and do more, but I think he will tell you himself that he has to make some of those plays that were thrown to him. We gotta try and do a better job of getting him open also,” head coach Aaron Glenn explained after the game.
To his credit, Mitchell took full accountability after the game.
“If I could really pinpoint anything,” Mitchell told Cimini, “I’d point the finger at myself and say, ‘I need to perform better.'”
The Jets Have No Choice and It’s an Important Question to Answer
One reason Mitchell will continue to get looks is because well someone has to. The Jets are lacking in options at pass catcher after a variety of injuries. So in a way, the team has no choice.
Beyond that, Mitchell is a former second-round pick, a top 60 talent in the draft, who has obvious skills and traits. He is listed at 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, per the Jets’ official roster sheet. Mitchell ran a blazing 4.34 40-yard dash during the pre-draft process.
Wilson being out of the lineup is a unique opportunity to use that target share to properly evaluate what else you have in the room. One of the top needs for the Jets heading into the offseason is finding a legitimate receiver next to Wilson.
Maybe they can answer that question in the final seven games of this season instead of having to acquire one from outside the building.
NFL Makes Announcement on Browns RB Quinshon Judkins
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins won’t face formal charges for an alleged domestic incident in South Florida last month but he’s not completely out of the woods yet.
Judkins, a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, was arrested on July 12 and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery stemming from an alleged incident involving his girlfriend.
After reviewing extensive evidence, Broward State Attorney’s office in South Florida declined to formally charge Judkins, which it explained in a memo.
“This incident was not captured on any video surveillance,” the decline memorandum read. “There are no independent witnesses to the incident. Although the victim had photos showing injuries sustained, there were also videos in that same time frame where no injuries were observed to the victim. Additionally, the victim’s injuries depicted in the photos could be explained by either account of the incident.”
Judkins has been cleared of legal charges but could still face discipline from the NFL. The league’s investigation remains open, and precedent suggests a suspension is possible. Last season, Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was suspended five games even after his initial domestic violence charge was reduced to disorderly conduct.
“We have been following developments in the matter which remains under review,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told cleveland.com of Judkins.
Browns RB Quinshon Judkins Only Unsigned Rookie
What complicates Judkins’ situation is that he remains the only unsigned rookie in the NFL. Like many other second-round picks, Judkins held out in hopes of securing a fully guaranteed contract.
While all of his peers have come to terms with their teams, Judkins’ off-field issues have clouded his future. When training camp opened, Browns general manager Andrew Berry said he’s uncertain when Judkins could be signed.
“In terms of those decisions, signing, being at camp and everything like that, it’s honestly probably too early to make any type of determination. So as we gather information, we’ll have a better view on that,” Berry said. “Sometimes the information comes a little bit more slowly, but we’re still in probably the information-gathering stage with him.”
Quinshon Judkins Potential ‘Bell-Cow’ Back for Browns
The Browns used the No. 36 overall pick on Judkins, viewing the former Ohio State and Ole Miss standout as a key offensive addition following their decision to part ways with Nick Chubb.
“We’ve obviously been spoiled over the past couple years, particularly with Nick (Chubb) and Kareem (Hunt), and we feel like he is very much in that mold in terms of skill set,” Berry said after the draft. “Not necessarily saying that he’s going to, with certainty, develop into one of those players — we certainly hope that’s the case — but we think that he can be a bell cow runner that can really carry the load for us.”
In Judkins’ absence, Jerome Ford, Dylan Sampson and others have carried the load for the Browns in the backfield.
Judkins is running out of valuable time to prepare for his rookie season. The Browns face the Philadelphia Eagles in their second preseason game on Saturday. Cleveland has one more preseason game before kicking off the season on September 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
