The Jets’ great tackle rotation will continue this week.
Rookie Max Mitchell suffered a knee injury Sunday that will cause him to miss several weeks. Jets coach Robert Saleh said the injury is not season-ending but injured reserve is a possibility.
Mitchell is just the latest tackle to go down with injury for the Jets and what the offensive line will look like this week is unclear. Alijah Vera-Tucker started at left tackle on Sunday against the Steelers for the first time in his career and Saleh gave him rave reviews. Duane Brown, who has been out with a shoulder injury, is eligible to come off IR this week, but Saleh said the team has not made the decision whether to activate him yet.
“We’re going to put the best five on the football field whoever that might be however we have to do it,” Saleh said. “I thought AVT was fantastic. It is not easy to move positions along the offensive line. I think he did a great job showing his versatility and his mindset.”
Saleh said Vera-Tucker has actually been working after practice for a few weeks on preparing to play tackle if needed. Saleh called it a “worst-case scenario” but that became a reality when George Fant went down last week, joining Brown and Mekhi Becton on IR.
Brown has been working on the side with trainers during practice for the past few weeks. Saleh said they would make a decision before Wednesday whether to activate him. Players have 21 days from when they start practicing to return to games.
“He’s been working his tail off to get himself ready to play,” Saleh said. “Hopefully, we get the opportunity to get him out onto the practice field to test it and see where he’s at.”
Saleh on the near trade for Tyreek Hill in March: “Happy for the young man, Tyreek. He wanted an opportunity to go back home and play football in Miami. You’re happy for the young man that he’s getting an opportunity to do that. Sure, we would have loved to have had him here, but I think things happen for a reason.”
Saleh spoke about all the weapons the Dolphins have.
“It’s like the 4×100 relay team,” he said. “We’re going to have our work cut out for us on defense. It’s a challenge we’re excited for.”
DE Vinny Curry is also eligible to come off IR this week after a hamstring injury in training camp landed him there. Saleh said they will make a decision on whether to activate Curry before Wednesday.