Jets rookie Sauce Gardner unsurprisingly wins starting job for Week 1
Jets coach Robert Saleh is finally ready to pour on the Sauce.
In a move that should surprise no one, Saleh named rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner the Week 1 starter. Saleh had been holding out naming the No. 4 overall pick as a starter until Sunday. Gardner and Bryce Hall have been alternating days with the starters all summer.
“He’s going to be our Week 1 starter. He’s been fantastic,” Saleh said. “Bryce Hall has had a very good training camp as well, but at the same time, with the overall body of work since OTAs, it’s clear that the kid is going to be pretty good.”
It would have been a shock if Gardner was not starting, but the coaches wanted him to earn the job. Gardner said he appreciated that approach.
“I’m just going to come in and be myself. They drafted me for a reason,” Gardner said.
“They drafted me not to be nobody but myself. I appreciate the way that they made me work for it instead of being like, ‘he’s the fourth pick, put him in there.’ They made me work for it.”
Rookie DE Micheal Clemons continued to impress in Sunday’s preseason game with the Giants. He delivered a big hit on Giants QB Tyrod Taylor that knocked Taylor out of the game with a back injury. Saleh said he appreciates the way Clemons plays.
“That’s him. That’s what we saw in college. That’s what we knew we were getting,” Saleh said. “He has lived up to exactly what we expected. His mindset, his attitude, his effort … just everything about him is awesome. Really happy with where he’s at. Lot of respect for Tyrod. Thankfully, I think he’s going to be OK. Just his mindset and the way he plays … he’s absolutely relentless. I’m just glad we got him.”
Saleh on backup QB Chris Streveler, who has led comeback wins in all three Jets preseason games: “I think he’s probably had one of the greatest preseasons in the history of football. It’s been awesome. It made the decision to go for it at the end very easy knowing the ball was in his hands and just knew you were going to get it.”
CBs D.J. Reed (knee) and Bryce Hall (ankle) did not play. Saleh said they were both sore and the Jets just played it safe. DT Sheldon Rankins did not play for an undisclosed reason.