Jets coach Robert Saleh obviously doesn’t want to be dealing with replacing Mekhi Becton.
But Saleh isn’t panicking, even as his second-year left tackle battles a knee injury.
And that’s because Becton barely practice leading up to Week 1, due to a concussion. The Jets had been practicing George Fant at left tackle and Morgan Moses on the right side — and that’s their plan now that Becton is on the shelf.
“With respect to Mekhi, he did only practice twice leading up to the game, the last two or three weeks,” Saleh said. “[Fant and Moses] have gotten a lot of reps, so they’ll be able to work.”
Becton hurt his right knee in Sunday’s season-opening loss at the Panthers. He didn’t tear any ligaments, but he will miss a “minimum” of four to six weeks and perhaps will undergo arthroscopic surgery, said Saleh, who added it’s not a lock that Becton will need surgery.
Becton suffered a partial knee cap dislocation and sprained MCL. He is getting a second opinion on his knee. If Becton doesn’t need surgery, that could shorten his rehab time, said Saleh.
Becton’s absence will make it harder for the Jets to protect their prized rookie quarterback, Zach Wilson, who was sacked six times in Carolina. The Jets play two teams with strong defensive fronts the next two weeks — Patriots and Broncos. Not ideal.
But Saleh is trying to take comfort in the fact that Fant has 39 career starts, compared to 97 for Moses.
“We feel very fortunate that we’ve got three legitimate starting tackles,” Saleh said.
Fant struggled last season, and the Jets signed Moses to perhaps replace him in 2021. But Fant wound up beating out Moses in the preseason.
Saleh said the Jets probably will sign a tackle, if only for depth.
The Jets likely will place Becton on injured reserve. But once again this season, any player placed on IR during the season can return, provided he misses at least three games.
Week 1 was tough on the Jets’ health. Most notably, in addition to Becton, safety Lamarcus Joyner (torn triceps) is out for the season and punter Braden Mann (sprained knee) will miss at least four to six weeks, said Saleh. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood (sprained ankle) is out a couple weeks, as is backup linebacker Blake Cashman (hamstring).
The Jets have their bye in Week 6 — and four games between now and then — so that buys Becton some extra rehab time. If Becton misses four weeks, he’d be back right after the bye, for the Oct. 24 game in New England. A six-week recovery window would sideline him for Jets-Patriots, and have him returning in Week 8, for a Halloween home game against the Bengals.
Even before Becton’s injury, the Jets’ line stunk in Carolina. Through Week 1 — entering Monday night’s Ravens-Raiders game — the Jets are 27th of 30 NFL teams in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking ratings, and 22nd in run blocking.
While some of Sunday’s six sacks weren’t entirely on the offensive line, it’s clear this group must get better if Wilson is going to have a legit chance to develop as a rookie. So far, Jets general manager Joe Douglas has gotten too few positive returns on his efforts, over the past two offseasons, to rebuild the offensive line.
Becton had an uneven rookie season in 2020, after the Jets drafted him 11th overall. But he showed flashes of potential. So the Jets were looking forward to seeing him take the next step in 2021, as he teams with new left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, this year’s No. 14 overall pick.
Now, they’ll have to wait a little while longer for that to happen.
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Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com.
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