Jets' Coach Saleh Tests Positive For COVID-19, Could Miss Sunday

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ ­— The New York Jets could be without head coach Robert Saleh for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after he tested positive for the coronavirus, the team announced Wednesday.

Saleh, 42, tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday morning despite being fully vaccinated. The team announced that if Saleh is not cleared from the NFL’s health and safety protocols by Sunday, tight ends coach Robert Middleton would handle the coaching duties for Sunday’s game.

According to new NFL COVID-19 guidelines, vaccinated team personnel must produce just one negative test following a positive test rather than produce multiple negative test results as was the case earlier this season, according to ESPN. The Jets announced that Saleh developed COVID-19 symptoms and then tested positive.

If he does not clear protocols, Saleh would become the sixth NFL coach to be sidelined with COVID-19, joining the Saints’ Sean Payton, the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski, the Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy, the Bears’ Matt Nagy and the Cardinals’ Cliff Kingsbury.

If Saleh is not removed from the COVID-19 list by Sunday, he is still permitted to address the team virtually.

The Jets (3-11) currently have 14 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including four practice-squad player.

Under NFL COVID-19 rules, players and coaches who are vaccinated only need to be tested if they are experiencing symptoms.