Woody Johnson had an urgent message for Haason Reddick on the day the New York Jets’ owner made the stunning decision to fire his head coach.

It’s time, Johnson insisted, for the pass rusher to finally end his holdout.

“Haason, get in your car, drive down (Interstate) 95 and come to the New York Jets,” Johnson said at the end of a conference call Tuesday to discuss the firing of Robert Saleh. “We can meet you and give you an escort right into the building and you’ll fit right in. And you’re going to love it here and you’re going to feel welcome and you’re going to accomplish great things with us.”

Johnson fired Saleh five games into the Jets’ 2-3 start. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as the interim coach the rest of the season.

Reddick, a native of Camden, New Jersey, was acquired from Philadelphia during the offseason to help boost New York’s pass rush. But since showing up at the team’s facility in Florham Park, New Jersey, on April 1 to make his trade official, Reddick has not been with the team while locked in a contract dispute.

The 30-year-old edge rusher requested to be traded on Aug. 12, but general manager Joe Douglas quickly nixed that, saying New York would not grant his wish to be dealt. Reddick has not played this season and it’s uncertain when, or if, his contract situation will be resolved.

“This is something I’ve never seen before,” said Johnson, the Jets’ owner since 2000. “I don’t think any of us have seen anything like this. So I think you have to be part psychologist and part some other ‘gist’ to try to figure out what is actually going on.”

Reddick was entering the final year of a three-year, $45 million deal under which he was to make a non-guaranteed $14.25 million in base pay this season. He is forfeiting a game check — about $800,000 — for each one in which he doesn’t play. And that’s on top of the fines for his holdout that surpassed $5 million, including over $2 million for missing all of training camp.

He was placed on the reserve/did not report list on July 25, the second day of the team’s training camp practice.

“I hope that the young man can come to the team,” Johnson said. “We’d like to have Haason here. We’d welcome him with open arms. I will extend that. I haven’t talked to Jeff, but I think he would feel exactly the same way.

“So when he gets here, he’ll find a very welcome locker room and he’ll be able to fit right in. But he’s got to get here first.”

VIKINGS RB JONES WEEK-TO-WEEK >> The Minnesota Vikings are treating running back Aaron Jones’ right hip injury as a week-to-week condition, coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday.

Jones was hurt in the first quarter of the game Sunday in London against the New York Jets and did not return. The Vikings (5-0), who are the only undefeated team remaining in the NFC, have begun their bye week and don’t play again until Oct. 20 against Detroit.

“All the early information that we’ve got so far, it looks like we’ve avoided a long-term injury,” said O’Connell, who was hoping Jones could begin to work his way back into practice next week after receiving treatment during the bye week.

RAIDERS DT WILKINS HAS FOOT SURGERY >> 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.

ALL-PRO CORNERBACK FISCHER DIES AT 84 >> 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.

Before that, he played safety, tailback and quarterback at Nebraska. A 17th-round pick of the Cardinals out of college, 232nd overall, Fischer is one of the players in Washington’s ring of fame.

CHIEFS SHUT DOWN SAINTS >> Patrick Mahomes threw for 331 yards, Kareem Hunt ran for 102 yards and a touchdown and the host Chiefs overcame more red zone woes Monday to beat the New Orleans Saints 26-13 on a big night for Kansas City’s professional sports teams.

Just as the Chiefs were moving to 5-0 behind another defensive gem, the Royals were beating the Yankees in Game 2 of their AL Division Series in New York.

There were plenty of roars for the Chiefs, too. Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy scored another touchdown, and their defense shut down old Raiders rival Derek Carr while dealing the Saints (2-3) their third consecutive loss.

Carr threw for 185 yards with two touchdowns and a pick before leaving with an oblique injury. It occurred with about 9 1/2 minutes left, when Carr was hit on a fourth-down incompletion as he tried to rally New Orleans from a 23-13 deficit.

The Saints’ Alvin Kamara managed 26 yards rushing on 11 carries, becoming the latest high-profile running back to struggle against the Chiefs.