FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets coach Robert Saleh can't make up his mind on whether to play his starters Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons. «I'm torn on it,» Saleh said Saturday after the second joint practice with the Falcons. «I wake up one day and I'm like, 'OK, they're going to play.' The next day I wake up and they're not going to play.» It's a multilayered decision for Saleh.
The starters played only two series in the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and they typically don't play in the final game.
If they sit against the Falcons, it would be like having three consecutive bye weeks before the Sept. 11 season opener. On the flip side, there's the injury factor.
The Jets already have suffered key injuries to right tackle Mekhi Becton (season-ending knee surgery) and quarterback Zach Wilson (arthroscopic knee surgery).