Denzel Mims 'caught up' with Jets playbook as he hopes for more playing time: 'I can't control their decisions'

Through four weeks, Denzel Mims has one catch on one target through four weeks. He's been a healthy scratch in two of those weeks and the most offensive snaps he played came last week in the win over the Titans -- 16 percent. 

It's the biggest head-scratcher for experts and fans alike. Mims had a rough time this offseason after an illness kept him out of OTAs and on the outside looking up at the rest of the wide receiver competition. But he's a 2020 second-round pick by GM Joe Douglas, standing at 6-foot-3 with great speed. 

So does Mims know why exactly he hasn't cracked the starting rotation at receiver for Gang Green under head coach Robert Saleh?

"Yes, we done talked about that multiple times," Mims told reporters on Thursday when asked if he knows what coaches are looking for from him to start playing more. "That’s something that I’d rather keep between us, but I know what they want and I’m doing everything they can to do everything right do what they need me to do.”

Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur have both noted the fact that every receiver on the team needs to know what to do at each position on the field. That requires every player, not just Mims, to scour the playbook and get all those down. 

According to the Baylor product, he's done that. 

"I'm caught up," he said. "I'm ready." 

Of course, Mims is frustrated and he said so himself. But he has a good approach to his current situation.

"I’m a competitive player. Of course, every player wants to start, wants to be a starter," he said. "But everything don’t go your way. I just gotta control what I can control and just come in each and every day and put good things on tape and hold my head high.

"I can’t control their decisions. But one thing I can control is my effort and my attitude. So I gotta do that. I gotta make sure I have a positive attitude and my effort gotta be great.”

After the Jets saw offensive success in Week 4 at home, it'll be hard to see them shake things up, at least from the onset, at receiver. Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder and Keelan Cole were the guys there. Elijah Moore will also be back after getting out of concussion protocol.

But Mims' physical attributes make him a threat on the outside, yet the Jets have kept him on the sideline under wraps. In those moments, Mims isn't in his coaches' ear complaining, though.

"My goal is, since I’m on the sidelines, just be supportive," he said. "Be there for my teammates, make sure I cheer them on and try to help them any way I can. No matter what it is.”

There's no guarantee that Mims is going to get playing time, but he said as of now, he'll be suiting up. Until that time, he'll continue to grind for his new coaching staff with the hope he can somehow convince them to give him a shot.

That's all he's looking for.