Haason Reddick's Jets debut quiet, and he's silent on his lengthy holdout, too
Then-Philadelphia Eagles' Haason Reddick walks off the field at halftime of an NFL football game, Dec. 31, 2023, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Haason Reddick was quiet in his Jets debut and even quieter about his lengthy holdout.
Reddick, speaking to the media Sunday for the first time since his introductory news conference on April 1, refused multiple times to address the situation.
“As of right now, I have nothing to say as far as the holdout,” Reddick said after the Jets’ 25-22 loss to the Patriots. “The only thing that I’m worried about right now is: What can I do to be better? What can I do to get myself fully up to speed? How can I get better and how can I help the team win and what do I need to do to make sure we can get these Ws?”
Reddick played 26 defensive snaps. He didn’t record a tackle or a sack and was credited with two pressures.
The two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher is confident that he will be productive as he gets more used to the plays, the system and his new teammates.
When he was acquired from the Eagles in March, Reddick spoke about how excited he was to join the Jets’ defense. The Jets ended up trading productive lineman John Franklin-Myers because they couldn’t pay both players.
Reddick said he doesn’t feel any responsibility for the Jets’ 2-6 record.
“No, I don’t feel responsible,” he said. “I do wish some things were different, things happened differently. I’m here now. We took an L today.”
At one point during Reddick’s contract dispute with the Jets, he requested a trade, and his agency recently dropped him. Reddick hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha, and within a week, a restructured deal was worked out.
The new contract will pay Reddick the remaining $8.7 million of his base salary. Through incentives, he could recoup some of the money he lost in fines.
Reddick said that when he showed up last week, everyone welcomed him with open arms and made him feel comfortable. “No awkwardness,” he said. “That’s a testament to everyone on the team. Coaches, players, upstairs — everybody made sure that when I came here that I felt welcome. Even though I missed a lot of time, coming around the guys, you would have thought I’d been here the whole time.
“I appreciate the guys. They didn’t have to do that, but they did it. It made it a really easy and seamless transition for me.”
Reddick said his body felt fine after his first game in nine months and that when he reported last Monday, he was in good shape. He isn’t concerned about having to play again in a few days.
“I came out of this game no nicks or anything,” Reddick said. “I know Coach [Jeff Ulbrich] is going to do what he can to make sure that we’re fresh for this week. I don’t feel like it’s a challenge at all. I’m a football player . . . and I’m looking to take on any challenges that come my way.”
Mosley’s health
C.J. Mosley’s neck “locked up” on him before the game and he was unable to play. “It was kind of scary, honestly,” said Mosley, who looked stiff afterward. He said it didn’t get any better from the time it happened, which continued to be the case after the game.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
