Jets' No. 1 TE Taylor (thumb) out vs. Lions

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  Rich CiminiSep 25, 2026, 12:01 PM ET

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  Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets will face the high-scoring Detroit Lions on Sunday without No. 1 tight end Mason Taylor, who was ruled out Friday with a thumb injury.

Taylor, injured last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, didn't practice all week and is considered week-to-week.

"[It] won't be long," coach Aaron Glenn said of Taylor's absence.

Taylor has only two receptions for minus-2 yards, but he has logged more snaps than any of the five tight ends on the roster. This should mean a bigger role for first-round pick Kenyon Sadiq, who has five catches for 38 yards and a rushing touchdown.

The Jets (1-1) are thin at wide receiver -- three players on injured reserve -- and now Adonai Mitchell is dealing with a finger injury. He was limited in practice on Friday. He got a finger caught in a jersey on Thursday, according to Glenn, who said, "I don't think he broke it."

Glenn wouldn't comment on Mitchell's availability for Sunday.

If Mitchell is limited by the injury, it leaves Garrett Wilson and Isaiah Williams as the only healthy receivers with NFL experience. They also have undrafted rookie Malik McClain, who was signed this week from the practice squad, primarily for special teams. Glenn said they will promote one of the veterans from the practice squad, either Sterling Shepard or Tyler Johnson.

As expected, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) will miss his second consecutive game. The secondary held up well last week against the Packers, limiting Jordan Love to 145 passing yards, but the Lions (1-1) represent a greater challenge.

"This will be one of the most explosive groups that we'll go against, to me, probably all year," said Glenn, calling Jared Goff "one of the most accurate quarterbacks I've ever been around." He was the Lions' defensive coordinator from 2021-24.

The Jets have gone an NFL-record 19 straight games without making an interception.

Edge rusher Joseph Ossai (foot) and rookie cornerback D'Angelo Ponds (calf) practiced fully on Friday and could make their Jets debuts on Sunday.