The Jets play their first game of the 2024 NFL regular season, against the defending NFC champion 49ers in Santa Clara, CA, in less than a week.
The Jets begin the year relatively injury-free (DT Leki Fotu and TE Kenny Yeboah were placed on injured reserve last week and will miss the first four games), but they're still without pass rusher Haason Reddick.
Reddick, acquired in April via trade, remains on the Did Not Report list as he reportedly seeks a new contract. General manager Joe Douglas' message has been consistent: He is open to finding a solution once Reddick joins the team. If that happens this week, head coach Robert Saleh said on Tuesday that there's a chance Reddick could suit up in Week 1 for his new team.
"Really, it's going to be dependent on how he looks," Saleh said. "If and when he shows up, we'll put him through some work with training staff, see where he's at and communicate with him on what we can figure out.
"There's no disappointment. You've got your roster, you have the guys who are here and those are the guys you focus on. Hopefully, eventually he does get here and when he gets here, we're going to embrace him, love him and do everything we can to put him in a position to be successful to achieve the goals he's trying to achieve as well as us."
Saleh has not spoken with the two-time Pro Bowler since before training camp. Even though Reddick is a dynamic pass rusher (50.5 sacks since 2020), the Jets are confident in their defensive line as is without him, headlined by All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams and Pro Bowl pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II, who had 7.5 sacks last season.
Other than Johnson, the pass rushers include third-year player Micheal Clemons, 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald IV, former first-round pick Takk McKinley and two undrafted free agents in Eric Watts and Braiden McGregor.
"Micheal looks a lot different than he did a year ago," Saleh said. "From our standpoint, we recommended he gained 30 pounds, which in hindsight was not a good idea. Everything I feel like is in a really good place for him. He's lighter, he's faster, he's leaner leaner, he still has all his power and he's playing really well.
"Will McDonald looks awesome. His speed and counter off the speed is lethal. He's doing well enough in the run game and don't sleep on Takk. I thought Takk had a really good training camp also. We've got plenty to go rush the passer.
"Our interior guys, Quinnen, [Javon] Kinlaw and Solly [Solomon Thomas] still produce a whole lot for us, so I'm not overly concerned at all."
The Jets are ready to play Week 1 with or without Reddick. Even though there's been no indication Reddick will report, things can materialize in the NFL in a nanosecond. The 49ers, coincidentally, are a great example with WR Brandon Aiyuk and LT Trent Williams. Neither took a snap in training camp and they'll almost certainly play on Monday.
Aiyuk signed a deal last week after it seemed his holdout could extend closer to the start of the season if he was not traded. Then early Tuesday morning, NFL Network and ESPN reported that Williams flew into the Bay Area Monday night to finalize an extension. There had been previous reports Williams' holdout could bleed past the season opener.
The Jets have always been preparing for both players to suit up, much like they have to be ready to play without Reddick. It would be a bonus if Reddick reports.
"It's like finding change in the couch I guess," Saleh said. "He's a special football player and when he eventually gets here, he's only going to help us."
