The New York Jets have suffered a significant setback as star right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has been ruled out for the entire season after tearing his triceps in practice. The injury, which necessitates surgery, has left the team scrambling to find a replacement for the key offensive lineman, who has played every position on the offensive line except center since his rookie season. Head coach Aaron Glenn stated that the team would need to ‘keep rolling’ despite the loss, while exploring options for the starting lineup, including Xavier Newman, Joe Tippmann, and Josh Myers.
Vera-Tucker, who was voted as one of the Jets’ team captains for the first time in his career, will now focus on recovery after missing a total of 25 games due to injury in his four-year NFL career. The 26-year-old has been productive when on the field but has faced recurring injury issues, including a season-ending torn triceps in 2022 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023. His recent performance has been impacted by ankle problems, which limited his playing time last season. Despite these setbacks, Vera-Tucker has started all 43 games he has appeared in, showcasing his reliability and leadership on the offensive line.
The Jets play the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Aaron Rodgers, in Week 1 on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. This early-season matchup presents an opportune moment for the team to evaluate its depth and adapt to the absence of a key player. The team’s ability to integrate new starters quickly will be crucial in their early campaign, as they aim to make a playoff push despite the injury setback.