Mekhi Becton left practice early in a team period
Mekhi Becton’s path back to the New York Jets’ starting lineup has apparently hit another roadblock.
Per Jets X-Factor’s Robby Sabo, the third-year first-round pick left the team’s Monday activities early. Injured on the second play of a team period, Becton got up on his own strength but was clearly shaken up.
Mekhi Becton hurt on second play of teams. Gets up under his own power but is shaken up. Gotta monitor. Out of practice for now. #Jets
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) August 8, 2022
Connor Hughes of SNY further declared that Becton removed his shoulder pads and was taken indoors with a trainer by his side.
Mekhi Becton was limping during practice. He went down with an apparent leg injury in team period. He removed his shoulder pads & was taken inside with a trainer.
Last week, Becton started wearing knee brace for first time. Saleh said he’s been dealing with “discomfort.” #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 8, 2022
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic says Becton was favoring his right knee and limping heavily.
Becton was favoring his right knee (hurt last year) and limping pretty heavily. Not ideal. https://t.co/8iapGgS80x
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 8, 2022
Thus adds another chapter to Becton’s medical odyssey, one that more or less began last season when he sustained a knee injury in the Jets’ opening week contest in Carolina. While initially expected back later in the fall, Becton went on to miss the rest of the season while George Fant held down the fort at left tackle.
Becton’s fight back to the lineup has been one of the major storylines of the Jets’ training camp proceedings. Selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft, Becton was a limited participant in the team activities at MetLife Stadium on Saturday but head coach Robert Saleh declared that he was “really pleased” with the blocker’s summer progress last week.
“I just appreciate the fact that he is absolutely grinding through, making it uncomfortable for himself,” Saleh said, later declaring that Becton was on a “pitch count” on Saturday. “He’s getting better every day. He’s getting more confident every day.”
With Becton’s health once again curbing the New York enthusiasm, the Jets will likely look further into All-Pro blocker Duane Brown, who visited the team facilities late last week.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
