Jets-Kansas City Week 9: What to watch in Sunday's game; can Adonai Mitchell make impact with Garrett Wilson out?

Jets turn to Mitchell as WR1 with Wilson out

Adonai Mitchell is coming off the best game of his career and will be a focal point of the Jets’ offense on Sunday in Kansas City with Garrett Wilson unable to play because of a concussion.

Mitchell had seven catches for 142 yards and a touchdown last week against Las Vegas. It was only his second career 100-yard receiving game.

Mitchell’s goal is to consistently be a reliable receiver and deep threat  the Jets can use to unlock their offense.

“Just not changing my preparation, because that's ultimately what got me the opportunity on Sunday was the preparation,” he said. “So keep that consistent.”

The Jets expected a big season from Mitchell, who was acquired a little over a year ago from Indianapolis in the Sauce Gardner trade. He suffered a finger injury in September that required surgery and kept him out for four games. He’s wearing a protective glove on his right hand that appears to have his two middle fingers taped together. It’s cumbersome, but he has learned how to play with it. He made a terrific over-the-shoulder 47-yard catch last week.

“It's definitely a little different,” Mitchell said. “But it’s just ball at the end of the day.”

The offense could get a boost from running back Breece Hall’s return after a five-game absence because of a quadriceps injury. Braelon Allen has been one of the NFL’s most productive backs while Hall was out. The Jets haven’t revealed much about how they will use the two of them.

“I’ve said this from the very beginning that both these guys will play,” Aaron Glenn said. “I know we're trying to get in this who's going to be the starter and try to spin sort of a negative situation, but nothing's changed from how I see this.”

Glenn’s defense can’t afford another letdown this week against Patrick Mahomes. The Jets have allowed an average of 30.7 points in the last three games, the second most in the league. Kansas City has lost two in a row. Mahomes has dropped three straight only once in his career (last season).

Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey is back after missing one game with a groin injury.

Get in the (red) zone!

The Jets added extra red-zone periods to practice this week after scoring touchdowns on only two of six red-zone trips last week. They rank last in the NFL in red-zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns 42.3% of the time (11-for-26).

“It's something that we're all aware of and it's something that we're trying to improve,” Glenn said.

In their last five games, the Jets scored touchdowns on only five of 17 trips to the red zone. In their last two games, they settled for field goals twice after having a first-and-goal from the 2 or closer. The Jets lost those games by a total of eight points.

Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said there’s “a sense of urgency” to capitalize on these opportunities and that the coaches have to scheme it better and the players “got to bring it to life.”

Kansas City is one of the best in red-zone defense. Opponents are converting 38.9% of their trips, the third lowest in the NFL.

Geno good, Jets bad

Geno Smith is off to one of the best starts for a Jets quarterback, but the team's 2-6 record is keeping him from relishing individual success.

“I don't think that's a true competitive mindset,” Smith said. “Ultimately, it's about winning the game. Statistics, that's a part of it, but the reality is that the wins are what we're shooting for.”

Smith has completed 165 passes for 1,913 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games. If he  plays all 17 games, at that pace, he would own the Jets’ record for completions (351) and passing yards (4,065) and finish in the top five in touchdown passes (25 or 26).

The Jets have gotten some big performances on offense. They’re the only NFL team to have six different players with 100 yards rushing or receiving in a game this season. The Jets also are the only team to have a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in the same game three times. Kansas City is next with two.

The difference is the Jets are 1-2 in those games and Kansas City is 2-0.

Kansas City has allowed only one 100-yard rusher (Emanuel Wilson) and 100-yard receiver (Jaxon Smith-Njigba). It happened in the same game against Seattle.

Trade deadline speculation

This could be the final Jets game for some players. The trade deadline is Tuesday, and speculation continues to swirl about Wilson and Hall.

The Jets are not in sell mode the way they were last year, but another season is slipping away. Some Jets who could be on the move include edge rusher Will McDonald, cornerback Nahshon Wright, safety Jarvis Brownlee Jr., safety Andre Cisco and linebacker Jamien Sherwood.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.