Duane Brown's Return to Practice and Its Effect on Jets' Offensive Line
At least one reinforcement is on the way for the New York Jets' injury-ravaged offensive line.
On Thursday, the Jets announced that they have opened the 21-day activation window for veteran left tackle Duane Brown, who has been on Injured Reserve since September 23. Brown will begin practicing, and the team will have 21 days to move him back onto the active roster.
Head coach Robert Saleh teased the news on Wednesday, ahead of the official announcement.
"At some point this week, we will start Duane’s clock," said Saleh.
The timing coincides with the unfortunate developments surrounding offensive linemen Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer. After leaving the Week 8 win over the New York Giants due to injury, the starting center and the backup guard have landed on IR for at least the next four weeks.
Brown's eventual availability will provide some flexibility for the Jets' depleted position group. The 38-year-old Brown likely fits back in at left tackle, meaning Mekhi Becton would flip over to the right tackle spot that is currently occupied by second-year backup Max Mitchell.
"I think Mekhi will be good right, left, guard, he has that type of talent. Mehki is a freakish athlete," said Saleh. "As he continues to evolve in his career, obviously, you’d love for him to be a left tackle, but where we are at right now, we just have to make sure the best five are on the field somehow."
During the offseason, Becton, who was coming off a two-year absence due to right knee injuries, expressed his desire to play left tackle. After taking backup reps on the blindside for the first half of training camp, Becton moved over to the right side and proceeded to start the first two regular season games there. He took over the starting left tackle job out of necessity.
"I really don't give a damn where I'm at. I just want to play football," said Becton after Wednesday's practice in Florham Park.
While Becton was unavaiable, Brown totaled 12 starts while playing through a torn rotator cuff in 2022. He underwent offseason surgery to repair the problem and wound up on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the beginning of training camp in July.
Brown did not see any preseason game action but was available in time for the Monday Night Football season opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 11. The grizzled veteran, who was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, suggested that he may have initially returned too early.
"I was a bit ambitious in my recovery time, trying to get back. I don't think I was as strong as I could have been," said Brown.
The battle-tested bookend logged 100 percent of the Jets' offensive snaps through the first two games before a hip issue emerged and sent him to Injured Reserve on September 23. As he returns to full health, Brown is still viewed as one of the team's best five offensive linemen by Saleh.
"I do," said Saleh. "I think he’s in great shape right now. I think he’s in a great space mentally."
Although the situation at tackle is set to improve, the Jets have a shortage of backups on the interior offensive line. With rookie Joe Tippmann already out, and McGovern and Schweitzer leaving the game due to injury, the Jets were forced to finish their Week 8 win with gameday callup Xavier Newman at center and veteran tackle Billy Turner at right guard.
While Tippmann's Week 9 availability is still to be determined, the Jets added Chris Glaser to their 53-man roster on Wednesday. Glaser, who played in all four preseason games for Gang Green this past summer, was plucked off the Dallas Cowboys' Practice Squad.
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