For the past few weeks, the New York Jets had a dilemma at the offensive tackle positions. Duane Brown remains on the physically unable to perform list and has not practiced since training camp began on July 19. Max Mitchell and Billy Turner had been running as the starting tackles in the meantime and neither has been able to run away with a starting job. So questions began mounting about whether the offensive line would derail what has the potential to be a great season for the Jets.
But a former first-round pick may end up saving the day after all. In recent weeks, Mekhi Becton had been running with the second team and was getting reps at left tackle. He was hesitant to make the move to right tackle and understandably so. He felt he was moved around too quickly last season and was rushed back from his knee injury and that helped lead to his season-ending knee injury in camp last year.
Fast forward to just last week and now Becton is becoming more open to playing right tackle. He took his first reps at the position in practice last week and saw about 25 snaps during Saturday’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Becton played 18 pass-blocking snaps and didn’t allow a single pressure. Rosenblatt added that the Jets ran eight times for 76 yards with Becton on the field compared to 29 yards on eight carries when he was not on the field.
Mekhi Becton last night, per TruMedia:
– 18 pass-blocking snaps
– 0 pressures allowed
– Rushing yards with Becton at RT: 8 carries, 76 yards
– Rushing yards with Becton not on the field: 8 carries, 29 yardsJust an all-around dominant performance by Becton. Will be an… https://t.co/HWZysghusl
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 20, 2023
Granted, Becton has mostly done this against second-team players, but he has shown the ability throughout the preseason to be able to play well against top competition. There’s only one way now to find that out and that’s to allow Becton to work with the first-team offense, especially now that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will see playing time in Saturday’s preseason finale against the New York Giants. Of course, it’s no guarantee the rest of the starting line will be available. Head coach Robert Saleh said “we’ll see” when asked about if starters Alijah Vera-Tucker, Laken Tomlinson and Brown will return this week.
Still, allowing Becton the chance to block for Rodgers and get into the starting lineup should continue to boost his confidence, which has only grown since camp started. He played under 10 snaps in the Hall of Fame Game against the Browns and about 25 each against the Panthers and Buccaneers.
The regular season starts in three weeks. The Jets have to start figuring something out, especially with the stretch they have to start the season — their first six games are against the Bills, Cowboys, Patriots, Chiefs, Broncos and Eagles.
Now is the time to see if Becton can work his way back into the starting lineup, especially in what is now a contract year for him. The Jets declined to pick up his Fifth-Year Option, making him a free agent after this season. His play could not only make or break his career in the NFL but also the success of the Jets in 2023, a season in which they feel they now have Super Bowl aspirations. Let’s see what the man can do at this point.
