New York Jets injury-hit offensive lineman Mekhi Becton has blamed the franchise for the knee issue that ended his 2022 season, insisting no one on the team "cared" about his warnings.
The 6ft 7in behemoth has his sights set on being Aaron Rodgers' left tackle after recovering from a fractured kneecap and slimming down ahead of the new campaign. But he started last summer with similar optimism, only to suffer a season-ending injury and require surgery a month shy of week one and he believes his employers were at fault.
The 24-year-old came through as a left tackle in his days at the University of Louisville and he impressed in that role with the Jets in his rookie year in 2020, but after two injury-blighted seasons, head coach Robert Saleh and his staff earmarked Becton for the right tackle role ahead of last season.
Not only did Becton think that was a poor fit for his skill set, but he also believes the decision put him in a bad situation that increased his risk of injury due to the heightened stress on his problematic right knee. Becton insists the Jets were having none of his concerns.
“It made no sense to put me at right tackle," he told Newsday. "I hurt my right knee. That’s going to be the knee that I put the most pressure on (while backpedalling in pass protection). I explained it (to the coaches), but no one cared.”
“I got forced to play a position I don’t play. I was pretty much telling them I wasn’t feeling good the whole time throughout camp and I was told I shouldn’t be complaining, 'Go out there and do it'.
"I was limping throughout the whole practice, and I just took a step and my knee buckled and I got hurt again and had to get reconstructive knee surgery.”
The Jets declined to comment on Becton's claims, but he is the second player in as many days to hit out at the organisation for the way they handled an injury. Running back Ty Johnson criticised the franchise for releasing him just one day after underwent surgery for a torn pectoral on the team's advice.
Becton, however, appears to be a crucial part of the Jets' plans going into the new season. They were unable to address their offensive line in the first round after the Pittsburgh Steelers traded ahead of them to nab Broderick Jones.
Former first-round pick Becton, therefore has a strong chance of being the team's starting left tackle, although he has started at the bottom of the depth chart for organised team activities (OTAs) this month, owing to his year-long absence.
He is up for the challenge, dropping 50 pounds to weigh in at 342lbs earlier this month, and two weeks ago he posted “I. AM. A. LEFT. TACKLE!!!” before swiftly deleting the message.
“I was just saying what I know I am,” Becton added. “I got drafted as a left tackle. I dominated as a left tackle my rookie year, and I was going to dominate my second year, and that unfortunate injury happened.
"I’m a natural left tackle. I’m not a right tackle. I don’t care what people say. I know I’m going to go out there and prove it. People know what I can do. They’ve seen what I can do as a rookie, and I’m better now than I was then.
“They’ve been putting me on the depth chart as their third-string tackle because I’ve got to earn it,” he said, “but I know within a week, I’m going to be starting on that left side.”
