On a quiet Saturday morning in Florham Park, Jets HC Robert Saleh told reporters it's 'fair' to rule out Haason Reddick for the Jets' Monday night season-opening road contest at the San Francisco 49ers.
"Everyone goes through their own process, and I'll stand firm that when he gets here – we're going to welcome him with open arms, we're going to love him up and he's going to be part of this football team," Saleh said. "And he's going to help us win a lot of football games. He's got to sort through the financial stuff, which is none of my business. I said it when I first got hired – our job is to help these guys make money, so I always stay clear of it. Our job is to coach him when he gets here and to love him up when he gets here."
Reddick, acquired for a conditional 2026 third-round pick on April 1, is one of seven defenders in the past 10 seasons with a streak of four seasons of 10-plus sacks. He did not participate in the team's voluntary offseason workouts, mandatory minicamp and training camp. The 6-1, 240-pound Reddick, who amassed 27 sacks with the Eagles in 2022-23, now appears likely to miss his first game since Week 17 of the 2021 season.
"He's going through his process," Saleh said. "And when he gets here, we're going to do everything we can to help him get what he wants."
Against the 'Niners, the Jets will start Jermaine Johnson at one edge spot while Micheal Clemons could be in line to make his second professional start on the other side.
"He's relentless in the way that he works and approaches his craft on a daily basis," said defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich of Clemons. "He's the guy at 2 a.m., he could be out here measuring the length of his steps and altering his stance, or whatever it is. He's obsessed with this game, and he's all ball, all day, and he's a guy that just improves all the time because of that. So, I'm excited about him getting a little bit more run."
The Jets favor a rotation up front and Will McDonald, a first-round pick in 2023, will get significant snaps in Week 1. Takk McKinley, a first-round pick in 2017 who made the team after an impressive training camp, also figures to be counted on against a 49ers offense that finished last season No. 1 in yards per play (6.61) and No. 3 in scoring (28.9 pts/g).
Johnson, a Pro Bowler last season who racked up 7.5 sacks, spoke of the Reddick situation heading into the opener.
"I mean I'm worried about my job," he said. "That's something that he's handling. We all love him and we're all waiting for him when he's ready to get here. But we're fully confident we're about to go do some damage, for sure."
In addition to Reddick's expected absence, Saleh said that OL Wes Schweitzer (hand) and LB Zaire Barnes (ankle) won't play after getting injured during practice. Schweitzer will head to injured reserve. The Jets' backup options including Xavier Newman and Jake Hanson, a practice squad call-up candidate.
"We have a lot of options," Saleh said. "Knock on wood, we have plenty of guys who took a lot of reps last year, so I'll keep that one until gameday."
