Another One! Jets Forced to Start Seventh Different Offensive Line Combination
Lack of continuity has been a problem for the New York Jets' offensive line this season.
In the 10th game of the season, the Jets will deploy their seventh different starting combination up front.
Veteran offensive tackle Billy Turner will miss a second straight game due to a surgically-repaired finger. Turner's absence likely pushes Max Mitchell into the starting right tackle spot, leaving an opening at right guard. Practice Squad callup Xavier Newman was the starting right guard in Week 10, but the Jets opted to not elevate the second-year pro for Sunday's battle against Buffalo.
Instead, the Green & White designated interior lineman Jake Hanson as a gameday elevation. Hanson is likely expected to provide insurance at center rather than start at guard. Chris Glaser, who has been active for the past two weeks, appears in line to earn his first career NFL start.
"The individual pieces on our offensive line, love all of them. You just wish you would get some continuity, so they can play together and learn how to play off one another," said Saleh prior to the visit to Las Vegas. "We love the five that are lining up, we just need time for them to get that continuity."
In particular, the right side of the offensive line has experienced frequent, and consequential, changes.
Four different players have started at right tackle, beginning with Mekhi Becton in Week 1. The behemoth bookend has since switched to the left side of the line. In addition to Becton, Turner and Mitchell, Alijah Vera-Tucker served as the starting right tackle for a short time before suffering a season-ending Achilles rupture.
Heading into Week 11, the Jets have used six different players at right guard with five of them earning starts at some point.
Jets' Various Starting O-line Combos
WEEK 1
LT Duane Brown
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Connor McGovern
RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
RT Mekhi Becton
WEEK 3
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Connor McGovern
RG Joe Tippmann
RT Alijah Vera-Tucker
WEEK 6
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Connor McGovern
RG Joe Tippmann
RT Max Mitchell
WEEK 8
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Connor McGovern
RG Wes Schweitzer
RT Max Mitchell
WEEK 9
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Joe Tippmann
RG Max Mitchell
RT Billy Turner
WEEK 10
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Joe Tippmann
RG Xavier Newman
RT Max Mitchell
WEEK 11 (Projected)
LT Mekhi Becton
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Joe Tippmann
RG Chris Glaser
RT Max Mitchell
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