New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is still holding out the slimmest of hopes that star edge rusher and current holdout Haason Reddick could play in his team’s season opener in primetime of Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers.
“Yeah, depending on — I’m assuming he’s in phenomenal shape,” Saleh said on Tuesday. “He’s a veteran. He knows what he needs to get ready. He had success in multiple buildings and multiple schemes with coaching staffs so he’s going to know what he needs to do to be ready for Week 1. So he still has plenty of time.”
Reddick has not attended any practices or meetings outside of his April 1 physical and virtual introductory press conference since he was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles as he continues his pursuit of a new contract. He has been one of the NFL’s biggest bargains at the edge-rushing position as he is owed $14.5 million in 2024 before becoming a free agent. His 50.5 sacks over the past four seasons ran only behind T.J. Watt (62), Myles Garrett (58), and Trey Hendrickson (53).
On Monday evening, however, independent pass-rushing coach Brandon Jordan tweeted a video of Reddick working out, which will only fuel speculation about whether or not he could be in game shape by kick-off on Monday, Sept. 9.
We in the Lab @Haason7Reddick pic.twitter.com/N6t32jvdhX
— Coach Brandon Jordan (@CoachBTJordan) August 26, 2024
Should Reddick end his holdout and be deemed ready for Week 1, it will be a momentous reconciliation between the 29-year-old and the Jets’ front office. Just two weeks ago on Aug. 12, Reddick demanded a trade to which Jets general manager Joe Douglas swiftly responded with a guarantee that such a move would not happen and that he would continue to get fined $50,000 for every day of training camp that he misses.
Over the last 36 days, he has been docked approximately $1.8 million.
