The New York Jets’ injury-plagued season continued on Sunday, and Alijah Vera-Tucker’s season-ending issue could impact Aaron Rodgers’ return.
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 win at Mile High Stadium as the Jets improved to 2-3, and a closer look confirmed that the player The 24-year-old suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, leaving him on the field 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 suffer a torn Achilles this season, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers going down 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.
“In terms of the injury, the AVT, unfortunately, the MRI showed that he had a torn Achilles tendon so he was out for a year. It was (a big shock), it was “This is the second year in a row and We were all a bit surprised. Because he played that game, he left on his own, he entered the locker room under his own power,” Saleh said during a press conference on Monday. “So we were quite optimistic that everything would go well, but it was a big shock and I felt sorry for him. He fought to come back this season after being injured a year before, and this happened again, which is unfortunate.”
Vera-Tucker’s diagnosis was a huge shock to the Jets, as he was able to play briefly despite pain, and the team reported at the time that it was a calf injury. The Jets have Max Mitchell and Billy Turner available as replacements, with Duane Brown expected to come off injured reserve in Week 8.
Despite this weekend’s heartwarming win, which saw the Jets exact revenge on offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett following Payton’s comments against his Broncos predecessor during the season, Vera’s injury -Tucker could give hope for Rodgers to return to record levels by the end of the season.
Rodgers has stated his intention to try to return to the field much sooner than expected due to his injury, but only if the Jets make the playoffs. And their offense appeared lax, even with Vera-Tucker in the lineup, which contributed to Rodgers’ injury in the first place.
Without his best defender in the trenches, it becomes more difficult for backup quarterback Zach Wilson to lead the Jets through adversity and into the playoffs, especially against Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in their division.
The Jets remain determined, but this could be the move that derails their ambitions, with the Philadelphia Eagles’ fearsome pass rusher next on the list on Sunday afternoon.