Jets’ Mims says he’ll be ready for opener

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. » Denzel Mims waited a long time before his hamstring felt good enough for him to get on the practice field.

The New York Jets rookie wide receiver left no doubt as to whether he’ll be healthy enough to play in the season opener.

“Most definitely,” a confident Mims said Wednesday after participating in his first practice of training camp.

The second-round draft pick out of Baylor had been sidelined all of camp after injuring a hamstring a few days before the team’s first practice on Aug. 14. Mims had been gradually working his way back, with the Jets being cautious as to not re-injure his hamstring.

On Wednesday, he participated in individual drills and the team plans to increase his workload in the days leading up to the Jets’ opening game at Buffalo on Sept. 13.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen him get to run routes live,” coach Adam Gase said. “It was good to see him moving around. He looked like he was running well. I know we didn’t do anything crazy, but just moving around and hitting the routes we hit in individuals, that was good to see.”

Mims is expected to be a key part of the Jets’ offense this sea

son, providing Sam Darnold with a speedy deep threat to complement projected starters Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman. But until Wednesday, the rookie couldn’t do much more than study in the classroom and watch from the sideline during practice.

“It feels amazing,” Mims said. “It felt really good to compete at practice, get back in a rhythm and get my feet wet a little, catch some balls and just be out there with my teammates.”

Mims acknowledged it was “very frustrating” having

to be sidelined to start his first NFL camp, but remained patient until he got the go-ahead from the trainers and doctors.

“I just wanted to come out there and do what I was supposed to do and just practice,” Mims said. “I’ve never had to sit out this long. I’ve never had anything like this.”

Gase said the Jets will monitor his snaps in practice while also try to get him up to speed quickly.

“The fact that he’s been doing as much cardio as he’s been doing and trying to make sure he’s in the kind of shape we need him in,” Gase said, “we’re going to have to build it up, but we need him to put things on fast-forward mentally.”