Robert Saleh Clears Air on Jets' Michael Clemons

According to New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, not all of the team's edge rushers had a bad game.

Even if the grades for each aren't pretty.

Of 134 graded edge rushers throughout Week 1, the Jets had No. 132 (Braiden McGregor), No. 130 (Jermaine Johnson), and No. 129 (Will McDonald) as reported by Pro Football Focus.

Third-year veteran Michael Clemons, though, appears to be in the good graces of his head coach, even if he was a part of a run defense that gave up 180 yards on the ground in a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Monday night.

"We all do," Saleh said when discussing the run defense. "I thought actually that Clem (Micheal Clemons) was really good. He was one of the better ones, but as a collective whole, d-line, linebackers, safeties, corners, we all need to do a better job."

New York's defense gave up eight straight drives with points scored by the 49ers offense - an ugly mark on what should be an elite defense in 2024.

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Clemons, whether Saleh believes it or not, was just as much part of the problem as anyone else as New York failed to produce consistent tackles, and struggled to set the edge.

He may not be in the dog house just yet, but the Jets need more from Clemons.