Jets' Robert Saleh tests positive for COVID-19

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The Jets are experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak that now includes their head coach.

Robert Saleh tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, putting his status for Sunday’s game in question. Tight ends coach Ron Middleton has assumed the Jets’ head coaching duties in Saleh’s absence. Middleton ran practice on Wednesday.

The Jets also added three players to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, giving them a total of 17 – 13 from the active roster and four from the practice squad.

"It’s crazy," left tackle George Fant said. "You see other teams get hit with it. I guess it’s our turn."

Saleh was tested after reporting symptoms on Wednesday, the Jets said. Under the NFL’s new protocols, vaccinated players and staff members only have to be tested if they show symptoms. Saleh could return to the Jets as early as Thursday. For that to happen, he must show no symptoms and test negative.

If Saleh isn’t cleared by Sunday, Middleton will coach the Jets against the Jaguars. Middleton never ran a practice or handled head-coaching responsibilities in a game in his 11-plus seasons working in the NFL. But he said Saleh has put a good plan in place.

"I’m not reinventing the wheel here," Middleton said. "I’m trying to keep the ship steering in the right direction. So far, no issues. Hopefully it stays like that."

Saleh ran Wednesday’s virtual team meeting, which he is expected to continue doing. After the morning meeting, Saleh called a staff meeting, Middleton said. That’s when Saleh told his coaches that he tested positive, and that Middleton would be standing in for him.

"He informed me that if something did happen, he wanted me to fill in for him," Middleton said.

It was a whirlwind day for Middleton. Forty-five minutes after Saleh broke the news to the coaches, Middleton had to inform the players.

"We were all shocked," linebacker C.J. Mosley said. "Hopefully he’s feeling good. Hopefully his family is OK. Hopefully we’ll get him back toward the end of the week."

Mosley said when Middleton addressed the team, he reminded them that they all have a job to do and they’re still getting paid so it’s time to go work.

"Everything’s been positive," Middleton said. "I basically told them we’re all professionals. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. What we do know is that we have a game on Sunday at this point. Maybe that changes tonight, tomorrow, day after. Who knows?

"But right now, we’re getting ready to practice and we’re all professionals, and last I saw, they didn’t change any of those routing numbers, OK? So, let’s go out here and let’s practice and let’s get better and let’s start preparing to get ready to beat the Jaguars on Sunday."

If the Jets’ list of players on the COVID-19 list continues to grow, it’s possible Sunday’s game could be changed to a later date. One NFL game was moved last week from Saturday to Monday and two more from Sunday to Tuesday because of teams being hit hard by the coronavirus.

Jets safety Ashtyn Davis, tight end Kenny Yeboah and defensive tackle Jonathan Marshall were placed on the COVID list Wednesday. They joined guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, receivers Elijah Moore, Jeff Smith and Vyncint Smith, defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers, Foley Fatukasi and Tanzel Smart, linebackers Blake Cashman, Hamsah Nasirildeen and Noah Dawkins and defensive backs Michael Carter II, Sharrod Neasman, Justin Hardee and Lamar Jackson.

There has been a surge of COVID-19 cases all around the NFL, including coaches. New Orleans coach Sean Payton and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski were unable to coach their respective teams after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni also tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Wednesday.

Middleton is in his first season with the Jets and 12th coaching in the NFL. He spent the previous eight seasons with Jacksonville as the tight ends coach and assistant special teams coach. That’s where he worked with Saleh. Middleton’s first NFL coaching job was with Tampa Bay as the tight ends/assistant special teams coach in 2004.

"I think these guys know what type of person I am, what type of coach I am and know that I’m strictly team," Middleton said. "There’s no selfish or personal deal with it at all. It’s strictly team. Whatever I can do to help this team beat the Jaguars on Sunday."