FILE -New York Jets' Denzel Mims participates in a drill at the NFL football team's training facility in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Denzel Mims was the New York Jets' exciting new playmaker two summers ago, a potential game-changing wide receiver for years to come. A lot has happened since. And not a lot good.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Denzel Mims was the New York Jets' exciting new playmaker two summers ago, a potential game-changing wide receiver for years to come.
A lot has happened since. And not a lot good.
The 2020 second-round pick out of Baylor dealt with hamstring issues as a rookie, an awful case of food poisoning that caused him to lose 20 pounds last offseason, a bout with COVID-19 last season and seeing his role in the offense dwindle to nearly non-existent.
And during that time, there was a lot of chatter — mostly by frustrated fans and puzzled media, all wondering what happened to the player the Jets thought they were getting.
“Everyone’s gonna talk," Mims said after practice Friday. "It’s up to you if you let that bother you. I don’t (go) on social media like that. I don’t pay no attention to that (stuff).
“I’m just going to continue to do what I need to do, honestly.”
Mims has played in just 20 games — including 11 starts — in two NFL seasons, catching 31 passes for 490 yards and zero touchdowns. His slide down the team's depth chart at wide receiver has been glaring, and he's below Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, Garrett Wilson, Braxton Berrios and Jeff Smith in training camp.
Mims' roster spot is far from guaranteed. But the 24-year-old receiver has grand goals for himself — the same as he had the moment his name was called with the 59th overall pick in the draft.
“Hopefully I see myself on top,” he said. “I mean, I feel like I put in enough work to be there. That's the coaches' decision, but I’ll continue to work my tail off and do everything I can.”
Mims doesn't mean just being part of a rotation, either.
“A starting receiver,” he said. “That’s my goal. That's my only goal.”
لم تتضاءل ثقته ، حتى لو كان الجميع فيه قد تضاءل. يقول ميمز إنه يشعر بتحسن كبير هذا الصيف عما كان عليه الموسم الماضي.
قال: "أفكر فقط ، أطلق النار ، أنا أحاول أن أفعل كل شيء بشكل صحيح".
تم تحسين صحته ومعرفته بكتاب اللعبة في صميم الموضوع.
قال ميمز: "أعرضها كل يوم". "الأمر متروك لهم إذا كانوا يريدون اللعب معي أم لا ، لكني أظهر لهم كل يوم ما يمكنني القيام به. وسأواصل القيام بذلك ".
عندما تم تجنيد ميمز من قبل Jets ، جاء إلى نيويورك للعب في هجوم بقيادة المدرب آنذاك آدم غاز ومنسق الهجوم دويل لوجينز. لقد غاب عن معظم المعسكر التدريبي بسبب إصابة في أوتار الركبة ولم يشارك لأول مرة حتى الأسبوع 7. أنهى المباراة بـ 23 مرة تمسك بها لمسافة 357 ياردة في تسع مباريات.