It’s been another winter of discontent for Gang Green, so it’s not surprising that Santa Claus gifted them another setback. Robert Saleh, the Jets’ rookie head coach, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Saleh is one of four NFL head coaches to test positive for COVID this season, along with Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints, Kevin Stefanski from the Cleveland Browns, and Nick Sirianni from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Saleh is showing multiple symptoms, so he’s expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ron Middleton, the tight-end coach, will take over as interim head coach for the Jets on Sunday.
“I’m not reinventing the wheel here,” said Middleton. “I’m just trying to steer the ship, keep the ship steered in the right direction. So far, no issues. Hopefully, it stays like that.”
The Jets (3-11) and Jaguars (2-12) will meet in what’s being dubbed as the Poo Emoji Game of the Week. The Jets and Jags are among the NFL’s worst four teams and bottom feeders along with the Detroit Lions (2-11-1) and Houston Texans (3-11). The Jaguars fired head coach Urban Meyer last week and lost to the Texans in Week 15.
The Jets opened as a -1 favorite over the Jaguars. After news broke about Saleh and COVID, the line moved to a pick’em. If you like to bet the under, the total is 41.5 o/u and dropping.
Another year, same old crappy Jets
If the season were to end today, the Jets would earn the #3 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If the Jets lose to the Jaguars in Week 16, they’ll move into the #2 spot. The Jets chose not to tank last season and it cost them the #1 pick. Instead of selecting Trevor Lawrence with the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets settled on Zack Wilson, who has been completely underwhelming in his rookie campaign.
Despite a dreadful record, the players adore and respect Saleh. He has the opposite personality of ex-head coach Adam Gase and he has a much stronger relationship with players, especially the veterans. Saleh is trying to instill a winning culture, but it hasn’t yet translated into actual victories.
Saleh turned around the vibe in the locker room, but he’s yet to transform the Jets into a winning team. The numerous injuries to key defensive players didn’t help the cause, but the Jets are in bad shape any way you cut it. Saleh was touted as a defensive guru, but the Jets didn’t scare a single team this season. Their Swiss cheese defense allows 30.6 points per game, the worst in the NFL. In terms of advanced metrics, the Jets have the worst DVOA in the NFL and are ranked #32.
Under Wilson, the LOL Jets field the sixth worst offense in the NFL, averaging a paltry 17.9 points per game. Their rushing attack is the third-lowest in the league, generating only 85.4 yards per game.