The New York Jets suffered another devastating blow that could change Aaron Rodgers’ mind

The New York Jets cannot catch a break this season. After Sunday’s revenge win over Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos, the “Gang Green” took a major blow to the trenches.

Star offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker was forced out of Sunday’s 31-21 victory at Mile High Stadium as the Jets improved to 2-3 and closer examination confirmed that the player The 24-year-old player ruptured his Achilles tendon, ruling him out. for the match. the rest of the season.

Vera-Tucker is widely considered the Jets’ best attacking midfielder, performing at both right guard and right tackle in the first five weeks of the season, but durability has been an issue since upon joining the NFL. Last year, his season ended in Week 7 after he tore his triceps. The 2021 first-round pick is the second Jets player to tear his Achilles tendon this season, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers out after just four plays in Game 1 against the Buffalo Bills last month. Head coach Robert Saleh and his team entered the season with high ambitions after trading Rodgers, but their hopes of success are on the line after another major injury on Sunday.

“From an injury standpoint, AVT, unfortunately, the MRI showed he did tear his Achilles, so he is out for the year. It is (a big blow), it’s the second year in a row and we’re all kind of surprised because he played a play on it, he walked off on his own power, he walked to the locker room on his own power,” Saleh said at Monday’s press conference.

“So we were pretty optimistic that part of it was going to be OK, but it’s a blow and I feel bad for him. He battled his way back this offseason from the injury that happened a year ago, and for this to happen again, it’s unfortunate.”

Vera-Tucker’s diagnosis came as a big shock to the Jets as he was able to briefly play through the pain, with the team reporting it was a calf injury at the time. The Jets have Max Mitchell and Billy Turner available as replacements, with Duane Brown due back off injured reserve in Week 8.

Despite a heartening win at the weekend, which saw the Jets get revenge for offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after Payton’s offseason comments directed at his predecessor at the Broncos, Vera-Tucker’s injury could bring Rodgers’ hopes of returning by the end of the season to a halt.

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The New York Jets’ offensive line depth gets weaker with an injury to their best offensive lineman. Right guard/tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered an Achilles tear in the Jets’ Week 5 win against the Denver Broncos. Vera-Tucker will miss the rest of the 2023 season.

He started at right guard and tackle this season. He switched to right tackle because the Jets placed left tackle Duane Brown on the injured reserve. Mekhi Becton switched from right to left tackle, and the Jets inserted Joe Tippmann at right guard. This is Alijah’s second consecutive season-ending injury.

The Jets traded up to draft Vera-Tucker 14th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He started in 16 games at left guard during his rookie season and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

During the 2022 offseason, the Jets signed left guard Laken Tomlinson to a 3-year, $40 million contract, and Vera-Tucker moved to right guard. Left tackle George Fant missed Week 4, and Vera-Tucker started for Fant. He then moved to right tackle after Max Mitchell got injured in Week 5. Vera-Tucker continued to start the next three games at right tackle.

Vera-Tucker suffered a torn triceps in Week 7. New York placed him on injured reserve on October 25, 2022. Vera-Tucker missed the rest of the 2022 season.

Vera Tucker is in his third year of his 4-year, $15,885,028 rookie contract. The Jets have to decide whether to accept or decline his 5th-year option.

The first option is backup right tackle Max Mitchell. New York drafted Max Mitchell in the 4th round-111th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Max was named the starting right tackle entering his rookie season and played the first four games. Mitchell hurt his knee in Week 4. New York placed him on the injured reserve.

On November 26, the Jets activated Max Mitchell from the injured reserve. The Jets placed him on the NFI list on December 7th. He would miss the rest of the season because doctors discovered blood clots. The condition isn’t believed to be career-threatening.

The next candidate to replace Vera-Tucker is Mekhi Becton. With the injury to left tackle Duane Brown, Mekhi Becton started the last three games at left tackle. Duane Brown was placed on injured reserve with a hip injury before Week 3 and has at least one week left on the injured reserve.

If Duane Brown gets activated, the Jets could switch Becton back to right tackle. Becton prefers to play left tackle. Becton got injured last year during training camp at right tackle.