Mekhi Becton will soon return to the field for the New York Jets
It has been nine long months since New York Jets fans have last seen tackle Mekhi Becton on the field. Following a Week 1 knee injury, speculation has swirled around his health, commitment, and weight. Prior to the draft, was rumored that some around the league believed that Becton would never play for the Jets again.
Thankfully, fans finally received some good news on Monday morning when DJ Bien-Aime of the New York Daily News reported that Becton is expected to show up to the team’s mandatory minicamp.
Mekhi Becton is expected to show up to mandatory minicamp per source.
Becton missed OTAs to attend to the birth of his child.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) June 6, 2022
The Jets begin their mandatory minicamp on June 14. It will run for three days, concluding on June 16.
Becton chose to stay in Dallas, Texas for the birth of his first child when the Jets started voluntary workouts on May 23. While some questioned the decision, his teammates were quick to defend his decision to stay with his family.
Head coach Robert Saleh stated in April that they have maintained communication with Becton and that he is putting in the work on his own.
Robert Saleh says Mekhi Becton is "working his tail off" in Dallas:
"We'd love you back here, buddy! Come on. We'll take care of you." 😂 pic.twitter.com/V8QxTQwZT5
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) April 30, 2022
Starting in one week, however, the pressure is on. While Becton flashed dominance as a rookie, his inability to stay on the field is a major concern for the future. Becton needs a fast start on the practice field as he is set to compete against George Fant for the left tackle job.
In last year’s training camp, there were questions regarding Becton’s conditioning as he struggled against defensive end Carl Lawson. To Becton’s credit, he has been looking slender in videos posted to his trainer’s Instagram throughout this offseason.
Mekhi Becton is looking strong and healthy working with one of the best Oline coaches in the business. 🔥👀@BigDuke50 pic.twitter.com/9D5DDxet7O
— Optimistic Jets (@OptimisticJets) May 5, 2022
After the birth of his first child, Becton should be focused and motivated. With generational size and athleticism, he has all the tools to be great. He just needs to stay healthy and continue to improve.