Mike White will likely be without his top target for his NFL starting debut Sunday.
Jets receiver Corey Davis sustained a hip flexor injury during Thursday’s practice and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Bengals.
“It’s not looking good,” head coach Robert Saleh said Friday before Davis missed practice. “We’re still holding on to hope, but it’s trending in that direction.”
Davis is the leading receiver for the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. He has 24 catches for 349 yards and four of the Jets’ five receiving touchdowns.
With the Jets already heading into Sunday without quarterback Zach Wilson (knee), forcing White into the first start of his career, losing Davis would be another big blow while opening the door for Denzel Mims to see more playing time.
“Obviously [Davis is] a stud,” Saleh said. “It gives Denzel Mims an opportunity to step into that Z role, along with the rotation we have with Elijah [Moore] and Keelan Cole. So it gives guys opportunities to step up.”
Saleh said it was too soon to tell whether Davis’ injury would be a long-term one.
“We’ll see. It’s day-to-day,” he said. “We’re still holding onto this Sunday, but we’ll see as it goes.”
Corey Davis is likely out for the Jets game against the Bengals. APThe schedule is not in Davis’ favor. After Sunday, the Jets have a quick turnaround with a Thursday matchup against the Colts.
In the interim, it could be another opportunity for Mims to take on a bigger role. The 2020 second-round pick has been inactive twice this year and has caught only four passes for 79 yards in what has been a disappointing sophomore season.
Mims played a season-high 20 snaps last Sunday in a 54-13 loss to the Patriots, but was only targeted twice.
White will have at his disposal Mims, Cole and Moore on the outside and the veteran Jamison Crowder and Braxton Berrios in the slot.
