Jets' Robert Saleh: Rookies won't risk injuries during minicamp

New York Jets second-year head coach Robert Saleh has witnessed all that can go wrong during what should otherwise be a harmless rookie minicamp. 

Saleh was serving as linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in May 2015 when pass-rusher and No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler went down with a torn ACL during the club's first rookie minicamp session that spring. 

As Andy Vasquez noted for NorthJersey.com, the Jets began this year's rookie minicamp on Friday morning, and Saleh later assured everyone he's doing whatever possible to eliminate injury risks this spring. 

"I’m scarred," Saleh admitted, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Dante Fowler, first play of rookie minicamp, tears his ACL and he’s out for his entire first season." 

The new first-year pros will nevertheless put in some physical work and the experience will also present opportunities for undrafted free agents to impress coaches ahead of organized team activities. According to Vasquez, the Jets' first OTA practice is scheduled to take place on May 23. 

"They’re going through all the meetings, they’re going through all the walk-throughs, they’re getting in good work and it’s getting us a chance to see where they are physically from a conditioning standpoint so we can get them caught up," Saleh added during his comments. 

The entire NFL community watched the 2021 Baltimore Ravens have a promising season demolished by injury setbacks. One can't blame Saleh and other coaches for being overly cautious at this time of year.