The Jets never considered WR Adonai Mitchell to be a mere throw-in in the Nov. 4 deal that sent CB Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis for a pair of first-round draft picks (in 2026 and 2027). After all, Mitchell was the Colts' second-round selection (No. 52 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has size (6-2, 205) and speed and could potentially provide the offense with a boost while Garrett Wilson is on injured reserve with a knee injury -- and once Wilson returns.

In his first game, the Thursday night loss at New England, Mitchell had several opportunities but could only corral 1-of-6 passes from QB Justin Fields. His single reception, for 10 yards and a first down on the game-opening scoring drive, was overshadowed by a near miss on a long, sideline pass on third down in the second quarter that could have set up the Jets in New England territory.

"AD as a person is awesome," OC Tanner Engstrand said. "He's been phenomenal so far. Just like being around him, he's got great energy, he's got a great attitude. And to me, that's where it starts. Like when I see him, I think he's one of us.

"But if you want watch his performance last week, I got it – the drops. That happens occasionally, but what I see there is separation. I see separation, and to me, that gets me fired up, that gets me excited about that player and where he's going to go. We just we haven't even seen it. We haven't seen it. We haven't scratched the surface with that guy, and we're excited about where he's going to go."

HC Aaron Glenn acknowledged his team's struggles on offense when earlier this week he decided to start QB Tyrod Taylor for Sunday's game at Baltimore, making Fields QB2.

"Obviously we got to do a better job in the passing game, and that has a lot to do with Justin getting the ball to the right guys," Glenn said the morning after the Pats game. "And also the guys, when they do get a chance to get the ball, that they make those."

Glenn added: "But, man, there were some passes in that game. I thought that we had chance to make some big plays on and we didn't finish though, so it's a combination both."

For his part, Mitchell remains confident in his ability.

"We'll see what happens," he said. "Obviously, I know what I can do. So, once it happens, it'll be a different story built around it."

Rookie S Malachi Moore Making an Impact
For a fourth-round selection (No. 130 overall) in this year's NFL Draft, S Malachi Moore is having a pretty impressive rookie season.

Since the Jets' Week 6 game against Denver in London, Moore has taken 100% of the snaps on defense and has started 7-of-10 games overall. For a time, Moore supplanted Tony Adams at safety, but he has now stepped in for veteran Andre Cisco, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

"Experience is something that you can only get by being out there in the fire," he said. "And that's the best way, I think, to learn -- to actually go out there and go through it. It's been good. With each game, I feel like the game is slowing down for me more and more."

Moore is known as a tenacious tackler from his days in the defensive backfield at Alabama. He's brought that quality to the Jets and is now No. 3 on the team in total tackles (45), behind leader LB Jamien Sherwood and CB Brandon Stephens. Moore also has a TFL and 2 passes defensed. He's likely to find himself in the heat of the action against the run-heavy Baltimore offense on Sunday

"Definitely their run game and their running back [Derrick Henry]," he said. "That's where it starts. 8 [QB Lamar Jackson], he does a great job with playmaking, extending plays and getting the ball to his playmakers on the outside. But they also have 22 [Henry] on the inside with the run."

Jetcetera
The Jets listed 6 players on Thursday's injury report: RB/KR Kene Nwangwu is dealing with a hamstring injury and did not practice. ... CB Azareye'h Thomas has cleared the concussion protocol and was a full participant in practice ... Edge Will McDonald IV (quad) and DL Harrison Phillips (foot) did not practice on Wednesday, but they both saw limited action on Thursday. ... LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (hamstring), who is off the injured reserve list, fully practiced as he works in his 21-day window toward returning. ... And RG Joe Tippmann fully practiced (with a notation of personal matter, not injury related.).