Has there been a bigger concern among the New York Jets roster outside of the health of the offensive line?
A problem that was seen months before the start of the regular season has reared its ugly head just two months in. Now, it appears that the group so many were concerned over, could be getting some key reinforcements back.
New York is expected to have second-round rookie Joe Tippmann return from a groin injury after missing a start last week against the Giants. His help along the interior will come in handy but is not the only member of the group returning from injury either – veteran tackle Duane Brown will have his 21-day practice window opened by the Jets this week.
Now, with a guard and tackle returning to the lineup, the only leftover question is where these guys are going to play. It’s particularly important for a player like Brown who has seen Mekhi Becton take over the starting role at left tackle. While the 38-year-old former first-round pick has only played on the left side, moving Becton back to a previous position that was a factor in his broken kneecap last year.
The Jets won’t openly admit to what they will do once Brown returns, but all signs point to Becton moving back to the right side of the line.
“We like where everyone is at,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh stated. “We’re trying to avoid making so many moves. The continuity is already lacking and so you’re just trying to make as few moves as possible to keep guys playing, doing what they do best, but nothing is off the table, like I said, we’ve got to play our best five, but we’re trying to do so in a way that’s more of a minimalist mentality.”
Saleh later called Becton a “freakish” athlete who can play on both the right and left side of the line. The Jets’ coach also explained that while the team doesn’t want to have a musical chairs type of situation along their offensive line, the current state of affairs may leave them with no choice.
“Where we are at right now, we just have to make sure the best five are on the field somehow, someway to protect the quarterback and give him some time,” Saleh explained.
For the second time this season, the Jets seem to have a competition taking place for the starting left tackle spot. Neith Becton or Brown are making this about themselves though – both are willing to do whatever the organization needs of them to win.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen. Whatever happens, I’ll be the best player I can be,” Brown said.
The former Texan and Seahawk hasn’t played on the right side of the line since his college days. That leaves Becton the likely candidate to move over to the right for the second time this season – a move that even he knows will take some time to get the full swing of.
“I got to put extra work in,” Becton explained. “The muscle memory of being on the other side. I haven’t played football in two years – I just want to play football. I don’t give a damn where I’m at.”
While the former first-round pick out of Louisville said he was not concerned about what the move to the right side could do to his knee, the fact that Becton has openly admitted to playing right tackle was a cause for his previous knee injury is another thing to consider for the organization.
Both Becton and Brown may be competing for the same position, but both have tremendous respect for one another – a fact that the Jets believe will help them in their overall decision-making process. How Becton handles the pain tolerance in his knee, and how Brown handles the strength in his shoulder will go a long way to determining how well this offense can improve over the next few weeks.
Continuity along the offensive line though, is key.
“He’s (Becton) playing with a lot of confidence, he’s playing at a high level. I know he’ll continue to rise. He’s playing at an extremely high level & I’m proud of him,” Brown stated.
This would be the third time Becton would have to change his position over three months. New York will need to be careful to make sure he can make that move again. The fanbase may not like it, but it seems that a few more changes to the offensive line are on the way.
