The Jets’ offensive line is such a concern that it is impossible not to think about it and worry about it. If — and that is the two-letter word that means so much here — the rebuilt unit stays healthy, it should be able to give Aaron Rodgers the opportunity to show that at 40 years old he still has what it takes.
Keeping this revamped group on the field is worth discussing, but, apparently, not by those who make up that revamped unit.
“It’s definitely not a topic of conversation,’’ Alijah Vera-Tucker said Wednesday.
Yeah. Why talk about something that is so unpleasant and difficult to escape.
“I think the last couple of years have just been very — haven’t been fortunate for us, for sure,’’ Vera-Tucker said. “Kind of things you can’t really control, out of our hands.’’
He should know.
Vera-Tucker, a first-round pick in 2021, has had a difficult time steering clear of injuries.
After starting 16 games at left guard as a rookie, he lasted just seven games at right guard in 2022 before going down with a torn triceps.
Last season, back at right guard, he played 100 percent of the snaps on offense in the first four games, but in Week 5 he was lost to a ruptured Achilles in a 31-21 victory in Denver.
This is a comeback year for him, and the Jets obviously believe he is up for it.
This week they picked up the fifth-year option on Vera-Tucker for $15.3 million.
He said he is getting strength back in his calf and lower leg muscles, and is running and participating in offensive line drills.
“I can’t really speak on training camp or Week 1, but I can say I feel really good,’’ Vera-Tucker said. “Definitely on pace for a good start to the season.’’
He slides back in at right guard with a mostly new group. Joe Tippman, entering his second NFL season, is back at center, but three new veteran starters were acquired in a five-day span in free agency.
Tyron Smith (Cowboys) was signed to play left tackle, Morgan Moses (Ravens) is back for a second stint with the Jets at right tackle, and John Simpson (Ravens) was brought in to play left guard.
Given the age of the tackles — Smith and Moses are both 33, and Smith has a foreboding injury history — it was prudent that the Jets, with the No. 11 overall pick in the draft, resisted the urge to get a weapon for Rodgers and instead picked up a protector for him in tackle Olu Fashanu from Penn State.
“I expect it to be a real great improvement,’’ Vera-Tucker said.
Fashanu has already been in contact with Vera-Tucker, showing the 24-year-old that the incoming rookie is “gonna come here ready to work.’’
As for Smith, he is a USC legend. Vera-Tucker arrived on that campus to play for the Trojans 10 years after Smith left, and now he is teammates with the eight-time Pro Bowler with the Cowboys, named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 2010s.
“It was very surreal meeting him at first, now he’s in the O-line room, he’s my teammate now, it’s just kind of crazy to think about,’’ Vera-Tucker said.
He has lined up and started games for the Jets at every position on the line other than center. Unless he is needed elsewhere, Vera-Tucker should have a home at right guard.
“It feels good, it feels kind of comforting, before we even step into camp we kind of know what the lineup’s gonna be,’’ he said. “That’s a good feeling. Get to kind of focus on one thing, make sure I perfect the technique and my craft at that position. I’m really excited. I feel I haven’t been at one position since my rookie year.’’
Asked what excited him about this upcoming season, linebacker Quincy Williams’ first thought was, “I’m really excited about our offensive line.’’
There’s a caveat with this, even though those on the line aren’t speaking to each other about it.
“We know what type of unit we have in that room,’’ Vera-Tucker said. “The opportunity is there, we can’t waste it. Everybody’s got to stay healthy, of course. That’s the main thing.’’
Of course.
