Jets still playing for Robert Saleh after shock shooting: Sauce Gardner

Sauce Gardner deleted App X from his phone this week because he was tired of the negativity on it.

So he had no idea the Jets had fired Robert Saleh until he received a text message from his agent.

Gardner then turned to Google and found a story about Saleh’s firing.

“I was shocked,” Gardner said. “The reality is we are 2-3. Everything is still before us. I was really shocked. Coach Saleh and I were extremely close from the day the Jets first drafted me. To be honest, it changed my life.

“Where I come from, all the things I went through growing up in Detroit and for him to be able to take a chance on me…that’s why on his birthday I text him and every year I say, ‘I appreciate it. ‘ you for giving me a chance. ”

Gardner said the Jets are still playing for Saleh.

“We’re still doing it for him. That’s exactly what happens,” Gardner said. “We’re still doing this for him because we know everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart to make the team better.”

Gardner said the criticism of Saleh was unfair.

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“People might say it’s his fault, but realistically, we’re grown men who are paid millions of dollars,” Gardner said. “We should be able to be held accountable. We must be able to correct ourselves and the mistakes we make. This definitely confused me. He’s a great guy, a great coach. He always helped me find ways to improve. Not just me, all the guys around, coaches too. He was a true leader, a guy we all followed. I still can’t believe it.”

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said he has been talking to some of his mentors since taking the job on Tuesday.

He mentioned Washington’s Dan Quinn, Atlanta’s Raheem Morris and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur as coaches he spoke to this week for advice.

“I’m very fortunate to have a lot of current coaches who have a deep understanding of what this position is like, what it’s like and what it takes to be successful at it,” Ulbrich said.

QB Aaron Rodgers (ankle) was limited in practice Thursday, but Ulbrich said there is no concern he could miss Monday’s game.

OT Morgan Moses (knee) has been limited, but Ulbrich said he is on track to play after missing the last two games. LB CJ Mosley (toe) was limited.

Mosley has missed the last three games.

CB Michael Carter (back) did not practice.

Carter injured his hamstring before Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and now has a back issue.

TE Tyler Conklin (hip) was limited in practice and OT Tyron Smith (rest) did not practice.