Garrett Wilson found a new wingman in Week 3 — and perhaps for many years to come.
With No. 2 receiver Adonai Mitchell sidelined by an injured finger in Sunday’s 31-24 loss to the Lions, rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq demonstrated the potential of the first-round pick, making seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Sadiq, 21, became the second-youngest player in Jets history to record at least 100 receiving yards in a game, the second Jets rookie tight end to have as many receiving yards in a game this century and the first rookie tight end in Jets history to have a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same season.
Sadiq had been relatively eased into action after being sidelined for OTAs (hernia surgery) and missing most of training camp (including every preseason game) due to a setback in late July, but it hasn’t taken long for the rookie — who recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.39 seconds) by a tight end at the NFL combine in at least 23 years — to get up to speed.
“Now is the time to throw a lot at him,” head coach Aaron Glenn said following the loss. “He is getting every rep possible to be able to do that. He can play multiple positions, as you saw [Sunday]. He is a guy who is athletically on a different level than a lot of tight ends in this league, and he is extremely intelligent when it comes to understanding football. We want him to continue to grow in that aspect and try to get him the ball because we see what he could do.”
For the second time in three weeks, Sadiq scored the team’s first touchdown, diving to secure a 24-yard pass from Geno Smith to give the Jets an early lead.
Then, early in the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-3 tight end broke free for a 43-yard reception, setting up another touchdown in the Jets’ near-comeback.
Sadiq, who had five catches for a total of 38 yards in his first two games, played a season-high 38 snaps while fellow tight end Mason Taylor was sidelined by a thumb injury.
“I think it’s about each week finding ways to progress, going back, watching the tape, seeing areas I need to improve on,” Sadiq said. “Obviously it’s not ideal to not get those reps in training camp, so it was about making the most of my mental reps during that time period. When it did get to my time to go, I felt like I could hop in and make an impact. All the guys on the team have helped me out a lot and the coaches have put me in a great position.”
New offensive coordinator Frank Reich continued leaning on a crowded position room, using multiple tight ends in 22 of the team’s 61 offensive plays Sunday. The Jets averaged 8.5 yards per play in those formations, including a 20-yard pass to Jelani Woods and a touchdown by Jeremy Ruckert.
Sunday marked the first time in nearly 12 years that three Jets tight ends each had at least 20 receiving yards and the first game since 2019 that they had multiple tight ends catch a touchdown.
And the most exciting one’s career has just begun.
“We always knew he could do that,” Woods said of Sadiq. “It was just a matter of when.”
