Jets’ Offensive Lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker Suffers Potentially Serious Injury
New York Jets’ offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker left the field during Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos with a potentially serious injury to his calf. This marks the second consecutive season that Vera-Tucker has faced a setback due to an injury sustained in Denver. Last year, he suffered a season-ending triceps tear.
Vera-Tucker has been a crucial asset to the Jets’ offensive line this season, with coach Robert Saleh praising his performance as the team’s best starting lineman. The versatile player has moved from right guard to right tackle, providing stability to the line. In fact, Saleh recently expressed his intention to keep Vera-Tucker at right tackle permanently due to his impressive performance.
However, Vera-Tucker’s injury raises concerns about the team’s offensive line moving forward. After the game, Coach Saleh expressed his worry regarding the severity of the injury. When asked about a potential Achilles injury, Saleh stated that Vera-Tucker would undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.
Before exiting the game, Vera-Tucker allowed a sack on the Jets’ first drive when Nik Bonitto beat him around the edge. Max Mitchell replaced him after the injury and played the remainder of the game.
In addition to Vera-Tucker’s injury, the Jets also faced challenges before the end of the first half. With no timeouts and only 15 seconds remaining on the clock, quarterback Zach Wilson completed a pass to tight end C.J. Uzomah for a 5-yard gain. However, the team was unable to quickly get back into position and spike the ball, resulting in time expiring without a field-goal attempt.
Wilson acknowledged his mistake in that situation, admitting that he should have thrown the ball out of bounds and set up a field-goal opportunity on the following play. Reflecting on the play, Wilson expressed his frustration for not making a better decision.
Furthermore, the Jets faced the absence of DE Carl Lawson and WR Mecole Hardman due to surprise inactiveness. Both players come with significant salaries, making it possible for the team to explore potential trade opportunities in the coming weeks. However, finding suitable trade partners may prove challenging.
Despite encountering setbacks in the game, the Jets were fortunate that LT Mekhi Becton, who had previously undergone knee surgery, was able to return to the game after experiencing pain in his surgically repaired right knee twice. During his absence, Billy Turner filled in at left tackle.
The Jets will anxiously await the results of Alijah Vera-Tucker’s MRI, hoping for a positive outcome and his swift return to the team. In the meantime, they will need to assess and adjust their offensive line strategy to compensate for his absence.
