Edge rusher Haason Reddick isn’t with the Jets on Thursday and he hasn’t practiced with them at all since joining the team in a trade with the Eagles this offseason, but head coach Robert Saleh won’t close the door on his return for the season opener.
During a press conference on Thursday, Saleh said, via SNY, that he is “not ruling him out yet” when asked if there was a chance that Reddick could still report in time to play against the 49ers on Monday night.
Saleh said it was “feasible” that Reddick could still join the team and play because he trusts veteran players know how to get themselves ready to go on their own. Saleh noted that the 49ers are planning to play wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams after they sat out all of training camp and the preseason.
The difference in those cases is that the 49ers gave both players new deals. The Jets have resisted doing the same with Reddick and that makes it highly unlikely that he’ll be seeing the field in Week One.
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Folks, it’s time to buckle up! Edge rusher Haason Reddick remains AWOL from Jets camp on this fine Thursday and conspicuously absent since his high-profile trade from the Eagles this offseason. Still, head coach Robert Saleh’s optimistic demeanor won’t let nosy reporters pry the door shut on Reddick’s potential comeback for the season opener just yet.
Saleh Keeps the Dream Alive
In a fiery press conference that felt more like a pep rally, Saleh channeled his inner optimist. “I’m not ruling him out yet,” he declared, throwing a loaded, hope-filled dart at the skeptical gazes of reporters. When asked about Reddick’s readiness to suit up against the 49ers on Monday night, Saleh clung to a glimmer of hope—it’s feasible, he said, with the fiery confidence usually reserved for a Hail Mary pass.
Feasibility and Trust in Veterans
According to Saleh, self-motivated veteran players know how to prep even on their own. For Saleh, that’s the ace up his sleeve. He doesn’t sidestep comparisons either. Drawing parallels with the 49ers’ plan to play wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams—despite both sitting out all of training camp and preseason—he highlights the magic of veteran savvy. But here’s the kicker, the 49ers sweetened the deal with new contracts for their stars.
The Elefante in the Room
But let’s not beat around the bush. The Jets haven’t managed to drum up a new deal for Reddick, and without that juicy carrot on the end of the stick, it’s looking less likely we’ll see Reddick busting through offensive lines come Week One.
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