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.”