1:45 PM
The New York Jets will be without their head coach Robert Saleh for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"We're proceeding as if I won't coach on Sunday," he said on the call. It would be an easy adjustment if I came up with two negatives. We're operating as if I won't be there.
He was waiting for a test result from Friday morning. He would have to retest Saturday to clear the league protocols.
The interim coach is Ron Middleton, a former player and assistant who has never been a head coach.
The Jets have been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. They have 16 players on the reserve list after they activated wide receiver Jeff Smith and special teamer Justin Hardee.
The whole season has been filled with adversity, said Saleh. Why don't you finish it a little bit more?
The Jets will be down six starters, including four on defense, because of the coronaviruses, which is why they are not anticipating any more activations before Sunday.
Ashtyn Davis and Elijah Riley are both out of the position. Will Parks and Kai Nacua joined the team this week, making the Jets' options at safety three.
"It's not my decision to make," he said when asked if he believed the game should be postponed.
In a hotel, he has been involved in virtual meetings. He reached out to Kevin, who had to miss a game because of COVID-19. During the week, he was told he would be fine, but on game day, he was not.
"He said Sunday is going to be very sad," Saleh said. I'm looking for misery.
Four of his children have tested positive but are symptom-free.
The decision to elevate Middleton caught some by surprise, but the reason was that he is an experienced and well-respected coach on the staff. One of his coordinators didn't want to be given an expanded role.
He said he is looking forward to the opportunity and that he had head-coaching ambitions early in his career. He will meet with the staff and the game plan on Saturday.
"It's been a smooth operation, man," he said. "It's kind of scary, with everything that's going on and whatnot, but people are just going about their business."
The outbreak and injuries could affect Wilson. Wilson won't have his top three wide receivers because of injuries if Jamison Crowder doesn't play. The starting guards, Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, were placed on the reserve list, as was the starting tight end, Ryan Griffin.
Wilson is in a great place mentally despite the lineup upheaval.
Wilson has not been reflected on the stat sheet, but the team believes he has improved recently. Wilson has been playing relaxed and free. He was concerned about playing within the structure of the offense and it would lock him up. He would get stuck.
