Two Starting Offensive Linemen Ruled Out, Jets Down to Practice Squad Center
The New York Jets' interior offensive line was decimated by injuries during Sunday's game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
With starting right guard Joe Tippmann already unavailable due to a quad injury suffered against Philadelphia, the Jets lost two more starters, including Tippman's replacement, in the first half against the Giants.
The carnage started when starting center Connor McGovern went down early in the second quarter. The 30-year-old McGovern sustained a knee injury on a 2nd-and-10 play from the Jets' 37-yard line.
McGovern limped off the field and into the blue medical tent on the Jets' sideline. A few minutes later, he was subsequently carted off to the locker-room and declared OUT.
As a result of McGovern's exit with 12:00 left in the first half, right guard Wes Schweitzer, who was starting in place of the injured Tippmann, moved to center and reserve lineman Xavier Newman came in to play right guard. Making his Jets' debut, Newman, who signed to the Practice Squad on October 5, was a gameday call-up.
Schweitzer's stint at center lasted less than 8:00 of game clock. The versatile veteran suffered an injury on a 3rd-and-4 play as quarterback Zach Wilson was sacked. Schweitzer gingerly walked to the sideline and was subsequently ruled OUT for the remainder of the game due to a calf issue.
With all three centers unavailable, the Jets were forced to deploy Newman, a second-year pro out of Baylor, to the important position. Wilson fumbled the first quarterback-center exchange with Newman and the Giants recovered the ball at the Green & White 41-yard line with 2:24 left in the second quarter.
Veteran tackle Billy Turner came off the bench to plug the hole at right guard. Although primarily a bookend, Turner took snaps as a guard earlier in his career.
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