Jets to begin season with out holdout DE Reddick

The New York Jets, who constructed a win-now roster with the hope of competing for a championship, will start the season Monday evening with out their largest offseason acquisition.

Professional Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick, holding out for a brand new contract, nonetheless hasn’t reported to the group, leaving coach Robert Saleh little alternative Saturday however to acknowledge what had change into more and more obvious: It is too late for Reddick, positioned on the reserve/didn’t report listing initially of coaching camp, to be activated to face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.

Whereas Saleh did not say that immediately, he indicated as a lot by stating it “can be honest” to attract that conclusion. On Thursday, he stated it nonetheless was “possible” for Reddick to play if he confirmed up, however the group has now accomplished its sport preparation.

There is no finish in sight to the holdout, which took an unpleasant flip when Reddick requested a commerce Aug. 12. Regardless of that, Saleh continued to increase a public olive department, refusing to chide Reddick for his stance.

“I am going to stand agency that when he will get right here, we will welcome him with open arms,” Saleh stated Saturday. “We’ll love him up, and he will be part of this soccer group and he will assist us win quite a lot of soccer video games. He is bought to kind by way of the monetary stuff, which is none of my enterprise.”

The Jets traded for Reddick on March 29, sending a conditional 2026 third-round choose to the Philadelphia Eagles. Reddick, as a consequence of make a nonguaranteed $14.25 million in base pay within the closing yr of his contract, did an introductory information convention April 1 and hasn’t returned to the ability as a result of he’s upset that he hasn’t obtained a long-term extension, a supply stated.

Reddick, who incurred $2.05 million in obligatory fines for skipping coaching camp, will now forfeit sport checks — roughly $800,000 per week. He additionally will miss out on having his total wage assured. As a vested veteran, his wage would have been assured by being on the Week 1 roster.

Within the locker room, the gamers insisted they are going to be simply high quality with out Reddick, who has 50.5 sacks up to now 4 seasons.

“All of us love him and we’re all ready for him when he is able to get right here, however we’ve full confidence that we’re about to go do some harm, for certain,” defensive finish Jermaine Johnson stated Friday.

The Jets start the season with out three key members of final season’s defensive position, together with sack chief Bryce Huff, however Johnson stated he was not nervous a couple of drop-off.

“You possibly can ask the groups we joint-practiced in opposition to, after which y’all will see on Monday,” he stated. “I feel all of us really feel fairly good.”

Johnson and Reddick had been alleged to be the beginning defensive ends, however now third-year backup Micheal Clemons is prone to exchange Reddick, with Will McDonald taking part in on passing downs. Sometimes, the Jets use a nine-man rotation on the defensive position.

“So far as our defensive position goes, it is a defensive position that adjusts and rotates each single play,” linebacker C.J. Mosley stated. “So far as some folks not being right here and folks being gone, that does not actually make a distinction.”

The Jets, who ranked third in yards allowed final season, nonetheless have a handful of stars on protection and count on to play at an elite stage even with out Reddick, who was introduced in to exchange Huff and John Franklin-Myers (traded).

“We’ll play actually arduous, and we will play very well,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich stated. “I actually consider that.”