Jets’ Mitchell had ‘small procedure’ to repair injured finger, rookie Cooper’s practice window open

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell recently had “a small procedure” on his hand to repair an injured finger and remains sidelined, coach Aaron Glenn said Wednesday.

Mitchell has missed three games with the injury that Glenn has said occurred when the receiver got a finger caught in a jersey during practice on Sept. 24.

Mitchell, who wasn’t placed on injured reserve, appears likely to miss a fourth straight game Sunday when New York plays at New England.

“The good thing is he is moving his fingers around really, really well,” Glenn said.

As recently as last Friday, Glenn said Mitchell didn’t need to have the finger surgically repaired.

“Well, I think he waited like a week, week and a half before he had to see how he actually was going to progress,” Glenn acknowledged Wednesday, “and then we wanted to go ahead and get it knocked out.”

The Jets’ receiving corps could be getting some help after rookie Omar Cooper Jr.’s 21-day practice window was opened. The first-round pick was placed on IR after he suffered a high ankle sprain in the season opener at Tennessee. He was listed as a limited practice participant on the team’s injury report Wednesday.

“It feels really, really good,” Glenn said of Cooper returning. “More than anything, a rookie getting the chance to come back and get these reps that he’s been missing, and I think that’s the No. 1 thing. Obviously, he’s a really good player, but you never want any rookie to actually miss time because the reps are valuable for these guys.”

New York also got veteran Tim Patrick back last week after he spent the first four games on IR with a groin injury. He had two catches for 26 yards in his Jets debut last Sunday in the win over Cleveland.

Like Mitchell, Glenn said running back Breece Hall (quadriceps) will continue to be evaluated on a weekly basis. The Jets’ No. 1 running back has missed the last two games. Braelon Allen has filled in for Hall as the primary ballcarrier and had a breakout performance last Sunday, running for a career-high 116 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Glenn said left guard Dylan Parham, who has missed two games with a knee injury, and edge rusher Joseph Ossai, who hurt an ankle against the Browns, will also be week to week.

Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq remains in the concussion protocol after being hurt against the Browns, but was listed as limited on the team’s injury report.

Jets have another walkthrough Wednesday

Glenn switched up the schedule last week by having the team participate in only a walkthrough on Wednesday rather than the usual full practice.

The Jets were coming off a 23-12 loss at Chicago during which the defense was on the field for a whopping 89 plays. So Glenn said he used Wednesday as a physical recovery day for the players to let their bodies heal.

It seemed to work as New York snapped a three-game skid by beating Cleveland 17-12 on Sunday. So Glenn is sticking to last week’s itinerary.

“I just feel like it’s best for our team right now,” Glenn said.

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