Head coach Robert Saleh has been preparing the New York Jets for the very circumstances that the team will face in the Monday Night Football season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Exactly one week ago, two San Francisco lynchpins were locked in contract disputes that threatened to spill over into the regular season. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams, both top-flight talents, could potentially hold out into Week 1, but Saleh was never convinced that the situation would devolve to those lengths.
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"Fully expect those two. Fully expect Trent Williams to walk on the field and still be his All-Pro self with a newly minted contract, I'm sure. Aiyuk, I'm sure he'll be there," said Saleh on August 27. "You keep an eye, kind of a side eye. Right now, it's all tunnel vision towards them and only them. I'll say this, with or without them, they are still a championship roster, and they've got some dudes all over their roster. It's going to be a fun game, great challenge."
Since Saleh shared that prediction, Aiyuk agreed to a monster $120 million contract and Williams has reportedly agreed to end his holdout. That means both will be available for the 49ers when they host Saleh and the Jets on September 9.
"There was never not an expectation that he [Williams] wasn't gonna play. We've been preparing as if he's gonna be there since Day 1," said Saleh on Tuesday as the Jets kicked off game week in Florham Park shortly after the Williams news surfaced.
Saleh subsequently referred to Williams as "one of the best offensive tackles in the history of the game."
Making matters even more challenging for New York, 49ers' superstar running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to return to practice after missing the latter portion of training camp due to a calf strain.
With Aiyuk, Williams and McCaffrey all seemingly good to go for the Monday opener, the Jets' vaunted defense will have its hands full during what will be a homecoming for the head coach. Saleh spent four straight seasons as 49ers' defensive coordinator prior to landing the head job with the Jets.
If New York is going to post a Week 1 upset of the reigning NFC champions, it'll have to neutralize a formidable offense that will feature a 1,300-yard receiver, an 11-time Pro Bowl tackle and the 2023 NFL scrimmage yards leader. Saleh, however, never expected it to be any another way.
