The New York Jets insist Mekhi Becton will return in 2021
Weeks have become months for Mekhi Becton. Time will tell if it becomes a full year.
The New York Jets‘ star sophomore blocker continues to work away from the team’s practice proceedings, as he slowly tries to work his way back from a knee injury sustained during Week 1 action.
Becton was originally said to be out for four-to-eight weeks, but Week 13 has come and gone with no sign that Becton is ready to work his way back into the gameday lineup.
While Becton has engaged in what head coach Robert Saleh described as “field work”, the head coach was once again reluctant to put any sort of timetable on his return. Notes from the Jets dictate that Saleh is nonetheless “hopeful” that the 2020 first-round pick can make it back on the lineup before the season lets out.
“He hasn’t had a setback or anything, just everyone is different in terms of how they heal and all that stuff,” Saleh said. “Hopefully we can get something going soon, but it’s all the same.”
Mekhi Becton is working out on the side field at practice pic.twitter.com/Eica9RARzL
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) December 8, 2021
Making the situation all the more curious is that Becton’s fellow blocker Connor McDermott has made it back to the lineup after sustaining a similar injury during the preseason. Saleh described Becton’s situation as “different”.
“I’m not at all surprised or discouraged. He’s going to heal, he’ll be back, and he’ll be fine,” Saleh said. “I don’t think it’s ever too late. I think he’s got a desire to play for his teammates, play for his family and all that. So, whether it’s one game, two games, I don’t think it really matters to him, he just wants to get back on the field.”
Saleh said he is “not ready to even think about” the idea of shutting Becton down for the year. In his place, George Fant has embarked on a career-best season on the blindside, emerging as one of the NFL’s top-rated blockers for the 2021 season.
The Jets, sans Becton once more, will return to action on Sunday afternoon against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
