The usual exercise for most NFL coaches is to open midweek news conferences with injury updates — as much as the coach chooses to divulge (generally not much).
On Tuesday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn curiously decided not to do that, because he was peeved at an ESPN report the previous day that receiver Garrett Wilson will miss three to four weeks with his knee injury, but would not need surgery.
So, this is how Glenn’s meeting with reporters began:
“I’m going to pass on talking about injuries, since Rich [Cimini, ESPN’s Jets reporter] — oh, he’s not here — has all the answers. So, you guys can get all the injuries from Rich.’’
Initially, it appeared Glenn would then discuss his injured players after making his point clear that he was bent out of shape about the report coming out.
But he continued to refuse to answer questions about injured players in what became a rather bizarre and petulant game.
At the end of the news conference, a reporter asked Glenn if Wilson might be a “candidate’’ to be put on the injured reserve list.
“Ask Rich,’’ Glenn said.
“I’m asking you,’’ the reporter responded.
“Well, I’m telling you to ask Rich,’’ Glenn said.
“He’s not here, though,’’ another reporter said.
“Well, you better call him,’’ Glenn said.
“AG, no disrespect to you or Rich, but we want to hear it from you, you know?’’ another reporter said.
“You guys have been hearing [injury reports] from me, but now since we’re just reporting stuff that I haven’t said, then maybe you should ask him,’’ Glenn said.
With that, Glenn left the room.
Wilson, asked if the report about him being out for as much as a month was accurate, said, “Ask coach, bro.’’
On the Jets injury report, Wilson did not practice during Tuesday’s walk-through nor did rookie CB Azareye’h Thomas (concussion) or DT Harrison Phillips (foot).
Adonai Mitchell, one of the pieces the Jets received from the Colts in their trade-deadline deal that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis, did not play in Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Glenn said the reason he held him out of the Cleveland game was he felt like Mitchell needed more time to get acclimated with the Jets offensive system before playing.
But, with Wilson a virtual lock to be out, it looks as if Mitchell may make his Jets debut Thursday night against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Mitchell wouldn’t confirm that to The Post, saying, “AG’s gonna be the one to [make] a call. AG’s gonna tell you.’’
Mitchell, a second-round pick by the Colts in 2024 who has just nine catches for 152 yards this season, said he’s ready.
“My job is to play when I’m called upon and be ready when my number’s called,’’ he said. “Of course, as a player you want to play, but I understood why I didn’t. I feel like I can bring energy. That’s my biggest thing — energy. When I describe myself, I see myself as a winner.’’
Without Wilson, the Jets receiving corps consists of Josh Reynolds, rookie Arian Smith, Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard and Isaiah Williams. Glenn on Tuesday touted rookie TE Mason Taylor as a player that he expects to step up and fill the Wilson void.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
