Woody Johnson sensed his struggling New York Jets needed a change — and now.

So the owner made the stunning decision Tuesday to fire coach Robert Saleh just five games into his fourth season after the team’s 2-3 start following a 23-17 loss to Minnesota in London on Sunday.

“This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets,” Johnson said during a conference call with reporters. “I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today.

“This change, the change that we made today — that I made — I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now.”

Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets, who are trying to snap the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons. The move marks the first time in Johnson’s 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich — an assistant at UCLA from 2012-14 — will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season — with the Jets maintaining expectations to make the playoffs.

“He’s going to add a spark of positivity,” Johnson said of Ulbrich.

The surprising move came a day after Saleh said he was confident Aaron Rodgers and the Jets would be able to turn things around after losing two straight, including falling to undefeated Minnesota. Rodgers had his worst game with New York, throwing three interceptions.

“I’m not panicked,” Saleh said. “Nobody in the building is panicked.”

Saleh, who became the NFL’s first coach fired this season, had one year remaining on his contract and had the worst winning percentage — .357 — of any Jets coach with at least 40 games.

Johnson said he spoke with Rodgers — but not about a possible coaching change — on Monday. He also chatted with general manager Joe Douglas, but added “this was my decision and my decision alone.”

• Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is heading to injured reserve after undergoing surgery for a broken foot and will be out indefinitely, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made.

Wilkins was hurt in Sunday’s 34-18 loss at Denver.

• Pat Fischer, an All-Pro cornerback who was chosen three times for the Pro Bowl during his 17-year NFL career with St. Louis and Washington, has died. He was 84.

A Washington Commanders spokesperson said Tuesday the family informed the team of Fischer’s death. A cause of death was not immediately available.

Fischer played in the league from 1961-77, was first-team All-Pro in 1964 and was picked for the Pro Bowl in 1964, 1965 and 1969. His spent his first seven years with the St. Louis Cardinals and his final 10 with Washington, making 57 interceptions in 220 regular-season and playoff games.

Lynx beat Sun, on to Finals against Liberty

Napheesa Collier had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years on Tuesday night.

Kayla McBride fueled a strong start with 10 of her 19 points in the first quarter for the Lynx, who advanced to face the top-seeded New York Liberty in Game 1 on Thursday night. The best-of-five series continues with Game 2 in New York on Sunday afternoon, before Minnesota hosts Game 3 on Oct. 16.

DiJonai Carrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Brionna Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Sun, who shot only 38.5% from the floor (25 for 65) and were flustered into 19 turnovers that the Lynx converted into 22 points.

Djokovic has it easy at Shanghai Masters

Pursuing a 100th career title, Novak Djokovic had an easier time in his second match at the Shanghai Masters in ousting Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Djokovic clinched the match with his 19th winner, placing a forehand behind the Italian who was racing back across the baseline after being pushed wide by the service.

The fourth-seeded Serb did not allow a break point in the third round, after previously being stretched to two tiebreakers and saving set points against Alex Michelsen of the United States.

“Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match,” Djokovic said of his opponent, who had advanced by beating three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. “I think that has taken a toll, physically, on him today.”

Djokovic, who has won four of his 99 titles in Shanghai, next faces 61st-ranked Roman Safiullin, who upset Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5).