New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jets HC Robert Saleh, six players exit COVID protocol

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/29/21

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh exited the league's COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday and rejoined the team, just seven days after testing positive for the virus.

Jets coach Robert Saleh is back in the building.
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) December 29, 2021

Although the first-year HC only missed one game and continued taking meetings virtually while in quarantine, he expressed excitement for being able to see his team in person again.

"It's like the first day of school," Saleh said Wednesday, via ESPN. "[I'm] ready to go another 18 weeks."

New York also got six players back off the COVID list, including backup quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco, who is unvaccinated, was placed in the protocol on Dec. 23.

The Jets have officially activated six players from the COVID list:

DE John Franklin-Myers
DT Foley Fatukasi
CB Michael Carter II
LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
TE Kenny Yeboah
QB Joe Flacco

Restored to PS from COVID: LB Noah Dawkins, DL Tanzel Smart and CB Lamar Jackson. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 29, 2021

According to ESPN, the team still has 17 players in COVID protocol, nine of whom are on the active roster. There is no definitive word yet on which players could be activated from the list in time for Sunday's game.

The Jets (4-11) put up a big fight in Week 16 with a COVID-depleted roster, grinding out a 26-21 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.

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