Jets' Starting Front Five Finally Practicing Together
Their job performance could be the difference between contender and pretender for the New York Jets.
Aaron Rodgers can't play like a four-time NFL MVP while on his backside. The 39-year-old future Hall-of-Fame field general must be protected at all costs and allowed sufficient time to operate on his dropbacks.
Albert Breer highlighted the apprehension surrounding the Jets' offensive line in a recent SI mailbag. Now it's time to take a look at how the front five is shaking out ahead of the September 11 season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
The five men assigned to form a wall in front of Rodgers have finally been identified. It wasn't until August 29 that all five starting offensive linemen were practicing together on the same unit. Left tackle Duane Brown, who began the summer on the physically unable to perform list following offseason shoulder surgery, was the final piece to slide into place.
"I count last week, too," said third-year head coach Robert Saleh on the day that Brown began taking team reps. "I know Duane wasn’t there, but he was going through all the walk throughs and all that stuff. You’re always going to want more, but three weeks is plenty."
Having officially claimed the right tackle spot, Mekhi Becton was working as the other bookend opposite Brown.
"It was cool, it was fun. We got to joke about each other, joke with each other," said Becton following the August 29 practice session in Florham Park.
Jets Starting O-line:
LT Duane Brown
LG Laken Tomlinson
C Connor McGovern
RG Alijah Vera-Tucker
RT Mekhi Becton
The behemoth Becton, who has missed 33 straight games due to right knee problems, had previously stated his desire to play on the left side of the offensive line, but the Jets had no need there with the battle-tested Brown due back in time for Week 1. After taking second-team reps at left tackle for the first half of training camp, the 2020 first-round draft pick made the switch to the right side and earned a starting job.
"I wanted to be a part of that five no matter what," said the 24-year-old Becton.
Becton started the preseason finale against the New York Giants protecting Aaron Rodgers as the right tackle and Saleh officially named the 6-foot-7 giant to the first team after the game.
"Sometimes you gotta take a step back and put ego aside and just do what's best for the team. That's my main thing right now," said Becton. "I'm just doing what's best for the team. I wanna be on that field with my teammates."
Testing his twice-surgically repaired right knee, Becton held up adequately against the Giants. Despite playing limited snaps this preseason, the fourth-year pro didn't sound worried about his ability to battle for an entire 60-minute game.
"I've been putting in all this work. I feel like I have no choice but to be ready," said Becton. "I'm really confident in my knee, for sure."
While the starting tackles have only recently assumed their positions, the line's interior has been set for much of the summer although guards Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker missed a handful of practices in August. Veteran center Connor McGovern, who endured a slight challenge from second-round rookie Joe Tippmann, seemed to lead the position battle wire to wire.
Tomlinson and McGovern started all 17 games in 2022. The versatile Vera-Tucker suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7, but the coaching staff views the 2021 first-round draft choice as a potential All-Pro guard.
"It just goes back to the opportunity that everybody sees that they have in front of them. Nobody wants to waste it," said McGovern. "Nobody wants to be the reason that we waste this opportunity. Everybody wants to be the reason that this team capitalizes on this opportunity and that's the way to go about it."
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