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Robert Saleh channels his inner Bill Belichick with message to NY Jets fans

We're on to Dallas
Justin Fried
Justin Fried

The Jet Press

NY Jets, Robert Saleh / Sarah Stier/GettyImages

NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh is choosing to remain optimistic in the face of tragedy. Saleh spoke to reporters on Tuesday for the first time since Aaron Rodgers' devastating injury the previous night.

The Jets' coach confirmed that Rodgers had, indeed, suffered a torn Achilles, sidelining him for the entire 2023 season. Saleh expressed his condolences to Rodgers but insisted that the team has to move forward.

When asked about what his message to Jets fans is, Saleh channeled his inner Bill Belichick with a phrase many NFL fans have heard before. "We're on to Dallas," Saleh said with a smirk on his face.

Saleh claimed that the Jets' goals for this season haven't changed, even though they will now be without their star quarterback. He told reporters that fans shouldn't be too quick to write them off.

"I don't know why people are trying to put an obituary on our team name. While the outside world can go ahead and write whatever story they want to write, there's still the true story being written in this building."
Robert Saleh

Robert Saleh still believes in Zach Wilson and the NY Jets

Saleh did make one thing clear: this is Zach Wilson's team moving forward. The former No. 2 overall pick replaced Rodgers following his injury, and he did just enough to help the Jets score a miraculous 22-16 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.

The Jets will bring in a veteran quarterback, but Saleh made it abundantly clear that there will be no quarterback controversy in New York. This is Wilson's team until further notice.

Saleh's words of affirmation to his young quarterback are designed to evoke a sense of confidence in Wilson. His message to Jets fans is a reminder that what's done is done. The past is in the past. The Jets are looking forward to their opponents on Sunday.

The Cowboys are fresh off a 40-0 drumming of the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, and you'd better believe that their defense will be licking their chops at the idea of playing a Wilson-led Jets offense in Week 2.

The Jets can only control what they can control, however. This wasn't the plan, but it's the situation they find themselves in.

Saleh's message is a reminder that there are still 16 regular-season football games to be played. The Jets remain in good spirits despite everything they've gone through over the last 24 hours.

Week 1 is in the books. The Jets are on to Dallas.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.