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The past two days, the New York Jets have suffered their first true COVID-19 outbreak of the season.
Today on December 22, it was announced that the franchise may have lost an irreplaceable leader in Week 16 — head coach Robert Saleh. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported: “Jets’ HC Robert Saleh tested positive for COVID-19, per the team.”
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Jets Contingency Plan
In the event that Saleh cannot clear the COVID protocols by Sunday, tight end coach Ron Middleton will serve as the head coach, per Schefter.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini added that Saleh could return as soon as tomorrow if he’s cleared, but noted that the Jets HC “has symptoms.”
The New York Jets official Twitter account also released a statement reiterating all the news: “After feeling symptoms this morning, New York Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh tested positive for COVID-19 today. Tight Ends Coach Ron Middleton will serve as the head coach until Coach Saleh can clear protocol.”
According to Schefter, the Jets now have 15 members of the organization on the COVID-19/reserve list. The additional two from yesterday are Saleh and linebacker Blake Cashman.
UPDATE from Connor Hughes of The Athletic: “Saleh hasn’t had contact with coaching staff or players since the flight home from Miami — positive of going virtual. That *could* help Jets avoid more positives. Could. No rhyme or reason here. Game vs Jaguars could get [postponed] with more positives Wed afternoon, Thurs & Fri.”
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Who Is Ron Middleton?
This is Middleton’s first season with Gang Green, as is the case for the majority of this staff. Before journeying to New York, he spent the past eight years with the Jacksonville Jaguars — who ironically, the Jets face in Week 16.
Middleton was a tight ends coach with the Jags as well and spent some time as a special teams assistant with Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. He also spent 13 seasons as a college coach split across four different universities (Troy, Mississippi, Alabama, Duke).
A former NFL tight end himself, Middleton played 10 seasons after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 1986. He played for five different franchises, including the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Washington Football Team, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (previously of San Diego).
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Outbreak Answers Fans Call to Tank
New York Daily News reporter DJ Bien-Aime polled the fanbase on Twitter this morning and at least 36% of Jets supporters preferred the franchise lose against the Jaguars on Sunday at the time I wrote this article.
Now, I’m aware that’s not the majority but that’s still a very large percentage when you’re talking about over 2,100 people. In other words, many fans are still in favor of the tank approach despite where it’s gotten the Jets the past decade.
For those frustrated supporters that voted “lose for a higher pick,” be careful what you wish for.
This COVID-19 outbreak currently has the Green & White reeling with absences and that could easily sway the outcome in Week 16. If the Jets do lose, it’s possible that they end up with the first overall pick in the draft heading into Week 17.
Gang Green would surpass the Jags via head-to-head tiebreak, but they’d also need wins from the Detroit Lions (2-11-1) and Houston Texans (3-11, head-to-head tiebreak loss vs. Jets).
Of course, as Hughes mentioned, this Jets-Jaguars game could also be postponed if this outbreak gets any worse heading into the holiday weekend — good grief!
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