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The Jets offense won’t be whole for at least another week.
The unit will be healthier than it was last Sunday, though.
Consider that progress.
While No. 2 receiver Adonai Mitchell, top running back Breece Hall and starting left guard Dylan Parham were ruled out Friday for the Jets’ AFC East opener, rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq are expected to play against the rival Patriots.
Sadiq suffered a concussion against the Browns last Sunday, but was able to practice fully Friday for the first time this week. Cooper, meanwhile, has been out since Week 1 after injuring his ankle at the tail end of his first NFL reception, a 30-yard catch and run. That duo may be able to ease the burden on star wideout Garrett Wilson, who will have to deal with top cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
The Jets are going to need more out of their offense. They have managed only 29 points over the past two games, and rank 23rd in passing, 26th in total offense and 27th in points scored.
Gang Green is facing an offense that has come alive this week. After a shaky start, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has thrown seven touchdown passes the last two weeks, as New England has exploded for 74 points in wins over the Bills and Raiders. Their defense has performed well up to this point as well, fourth in the league in points allowed (18.8).
One way to combat an explosive offense is to keep them off the field. The good news is Hall’s backup, Braelon Allen, is coming off a career game. In the win over the Browns, he ran for a personal-best 116 yards on 24 carries along with the game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdown.
“I thought Braelon did a hell of a job, and not just Braelon but the whole O-line and the run concepts that we had,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “And even a couple runs that [Isaiah Davis] got I thought were pretty good. So, coming into this week, knowing that we’re going against a good defense, a tough opponent, it’s going to be critical for us to make sure we establish that run game so we can open up everything else when it comes to the passing game.”
New England will of course look to make the Jets one-dimensional by shutting down Allen. That’s where Sadiq and Cooper can be so important. The Jets used two of their three first-round picks on the duo, partly to be less dependent on Wilson every Sunday and also to add more weapons to the attack.
Sadiq has enjoyed one big game so far, a seven-catch, 105-yard effort in a Week 3 loss to the Lions. The Jets would like to unlock him and Cooper on Sunday.
There were high hopes for Cooper, who caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns for national champion Indiana. After a quiet training camp, the No. 30 overall pick flashed in the opener against the Titans with that long catch in which he made a few defenders miss.
Unfortunately, the play ended with an injury. But on Sunday, he will be back.
“Excited to see him back out there and excited about what he can contribute to this offense,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said.