The New York Jets are on the road this week for an AFC East showdown with the New England Patriots on “Thursday Night Football.” It’s a lopsided matchup between two teams whose seasons have been polar opposites.
The Jets, riding a two-game winning streak after starting 0-7 under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, are attempting to knock off the Patriots, who have won seven consecutive games. The disparity between the two franchises leaves the Jets very little room for error. That’s why wide receiver Adonai Mitchell’s miscue on Thursday drew sharp criticism.
Hall of Fame Shannon Sharpe Blasts Jets’ New WR Adonai Mitchell
Every opportunity for a splash play against the Patriots has to be seized. Mitchell, the newest pass-catcher in town, failed to capitalize in the first half of Thursday night’s game.
“Mitchell, your tm isn’t good enough 2 overcome plays like that. Flat out drop,” Sharpe wrote in a post on X.
Mitchell, your tm isn’t good enough 2 overcome plays like that. Flat out drop
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 14, 2025
Here’s the drop that Sharpe is referring to.
What a terrible drop 🤦♂️pic.twitter.com/PopwTj5AJH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 14, 2025
The ball, perfectly placed down the left sideline by quarterback Justin Fields, landed in Mitchell’s hands. Mitchell got the better of cornerback Christian Gonzalez, widely regarded as one of the best at his position, but could not complete the play.
That was one of four targets for Mitchell in the first half against the Patriots. He has one reception for 10 yards, and two of his drops have come on third down.
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Mitchell is in the spotlight, not only because he’s the newest face in the room, but because he is the de facto No. 1 wide receiver in an offense now without Garrett Wilson for the next four games. Wilson was placed on injured reserve on Thursday with a re-aggravation of the knee injury he suffered earlier in the season.
A former second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Mitchell played in just 25 games before being dealt to New York. He was part of a trade that sent All-Pro cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner back to Indianapolis.
In addition to Gardner, the Jets also traded All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. The Jets were responsible for nearly every major headline across the league’s trade deadline last week.