As the NY Jets prepare for their Week 2 game against the Tennessee Titans, they're still awaiting the arrival of star pass rusher Haason Reddick.
The Jets acquired Reddick in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles this past April, sending a conditional third-round pick to their cross-conference trade partners.
The hope was that Reddick could help replace the loss of Bryce Huff (and eventually John Franklin-Myers), adding one final All-Pro piece to one of the most talented and feared defenses in the NFL. And maybe that would have happened had Reddick actually showed up.
The two-time Pro Bowler has not appeared at the Jets' team facility since his introductory press conference in April. Reddick missed the Jets' first game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers last Monday night, but what about today? Is Reddick playing today?
Is Haason Reddick playing today?
No, Haason Reddick will not be on the field when the Jets take on the Titans later today. The former Temple standout remains on the Reserve/Did Not Report list and will forfeit another near-$800,000 by missing his second consecutive game.
Reddick's fines have now exceeded $6 million since his holdout began this past spring. That includes all fines from his minicamp and training camp absences, as well as the significant fines from missing regular-season games.
Reports suggest neither the Jets nor Reddick are willing to budge on their stance. The Jets don't intend to negotiate with Reddick until he reports and Reddick doesn't plan to report without a new contract.
Unfortunately for Reddick, he'll likely have to cave at some point, provided the Jets don't trade him first. Reddick has until the Tuesday following Week 10 to report or else his contract tolls to 2025 and the Jets retain his rights. That's not a feasible option for him.
Reddick is hoping to gain additional leverage by sitting out, with the belief that the Jets could change their plans if their defensive line continues to struggle. Week 1 certainly worked in Reddick's favor.
The Jets' defensive line struggled mightily, allowing eight consecutive scoring drives as backup running back Jordan Mason ran all over the Jets' defense. The pass rush, led by the likes of Jermaine Johnson, Micheal Clemons, and Will McDonald, only managed one hit on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
The Jets' pass rush should be able to find more success this week against a shaky Titans offensive line and a mistake-prone quarterback in Will Levis. If not, Reddick's leverage will only continue to increase.For now, the Jets will be without Reddick for yet another week with no immediate resolution in sight.
