New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh pictured in the second half. The Jets lose to the New England Patriots, 15-10, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in East Rutherford.
Syndication: The Record
(Florham Park, NJ) – On Wednesday, Robert Saleh looked back fondly. He recalled the vibe surrounding the Jets during training camp.
Saleh recalled “the excitement in August of 2023 was real… The excitement of everyone coming out of the tunnel on September 11th was real and it’s unfortunate the way the season panned out. But with that excitement, we’ll have that excitement again. The expectation for me — and I’ll speak for everybody around here — is that we win. And I do believe that we will.”
Now, in late December, Saleh wasn’t wearing his typical “Positive Vibes Only” tee-shirt. On Sunday, his squad was eliminated from playoff contention – the 13th straight season for no postseason play for the Jets. It’s a far cry from the offseason expectation and attitude surrounding the team. Many expected the Jets to be Super Bowl contenders, but that all changed in one moment – on Sepetember 11, in week 1 – when QB Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon just moments into the game.
Rodgers, who was just activated off the injured list, won’t return to the field this year. He told The Pat McAfee show that if the Jets could still make the playoffs he’d do everything possible to return. Now, he’s eyeing 2024 and vowing big things are still to come. Rogers will be 40 years old when next season begins but he expects to start the year fully healthy.
Wait till next year, as Jets fans know all too well.
