Jets Country

Jets Activate Nine Players From COVID List With More on the Way

Head coach Robert Saleh, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, cornerback Michael Carter II and backup quarterback Joe Flacco are among those that cleared COVID protocols for the Jets on Wednesday.
Max Goodman|
Jets Activate Nine Players From COVID List With More on the Way
Jets Activate Nine Players From COVID List With More on the Way

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New York Jets

Cleared from COVID-19 protocols seven days after testing positive for the virus, Jets head coach Robert Saleh was all smiles as he addressed the media on Wednesday morning. 

"It's like the first day of school," Saleh told reporters. 

Saleh wasn't the only individual within the organization to return to the facility on Wednesday. A total of nine players were activated from the team's COVID-19 list.

That group includes six players headed back to the active roster: defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, cornerback Michael Carter II, linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen, tight end Kenny Yeboah, quarterback Joe Flacco and defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall.

The other three players—linebacker Noah Dawkins, defensive lineman Tanzel Smart and corner Lamar Jackson—were restored from the COVID list, returning to the practice squad.

READ: Jets' Sign Former Eagles Tight End to Bolster Depleted TE Room

On Sunday, New York was missing 20 different players amid an outbreak within the organization. That number reached its peak when it was revealed that star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams had tested positive for the virus just 90 minutes before kickoff.

That didn't stop interim head coach Ron Middleton and the Jets from securing their fourth win of the year, a dramatic and exciting five-point victory over Jacksonville. 

Since then, a few more players have contracted the virus. Cornerback Bryce Hall and tight end Tyler Kroft were both added to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday, two big blows on both sides of the ball for Gang Green.

Nonetheless, Saleh was encouraged Wednesday that a slew of players will be able to clear COVID protocols before Sunday's Week 16 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The head coach said he is "hopeful" that guards Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Alijah Vera-Tucker, wide receiver Vyncint Smith, defensive end John Franklin-Myers, safety Ashtyn Davis and defensive lineman Hamilcar Rashed Jr. can return in the next few days. 

That leaves Hall, Kroft, Williams and others in a "50-50" situation regarding their status for Sunday, per Saleh.

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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