The Jets won't have their new starting center, Ryan Kalil, on Saturday when the team hosts the New Orleans Saints in their third preseason contest at MetLife Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
New York general manager Joe Douglas spoke to the media prior to the game and announced that the team, head coach Adam Gase included, had a change of heart.
Kalil, 34, won't suit up in the game despite that being the original plan.
"I know Adam (Gase) had said to you guys that Ryan was going to play tonight. After further discussion with Adam, with Ryan, with [offensive line coach] Frank (Pollack), we felt like the best thing for him and the team tonight would be to hold him out of the game," Douglas said. "We felt like the smart to do is to hold him out."
The former long-time Carolina Panther center came out of retirement to sign a one-year contract with the Jets on Aug. 1. Kalil is a two-time All-Pro.
Douglas cited the change because of Kalil's lack of practice time to this point. His first time in pads with the Jets was on Sunday, which only gave him three practices with the team to date.
Douglas said the team would "reevaluate" Kalil's status next week, perhaps indicating he could see playing time in the team's final preseason game on Aug. 29 against the Eagles. The GM also indicated he's confident that Kalil will be ready to take the field with Sam Darnold and the starting offense on Sept. 8 against the Buffalo Bills in the Jets' season opener.
"We're 15 days away from the opener, so we feel good that he's going to have plenty of time to be ready for Week 1," Douglas said.