Mike Remmers is the latest offensive tackle to join the New York Jets’ game of musical chairs
The New York Jets simply cannot catch a break at the offensive tackle position. After already dealing with injuries to Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown, they are now facing uncertainty with George Fant.
Fant left the Jets’ Week 3 game against the Bengals in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return. It’s the latest chapter in a tumultuous year for Fant, who had knee surgery in the offseason following an injury that occurred late in the 2021 season. Fant has been getting occasional rest days throughout the year to manage his recovery from the surgery.
Head coach Robert Saleh says Fant is day-to-day and the team will see how he feels on Wednesday before determining his status for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. Saleh confirmed that it’s the same knee that has been bothering Fant all year, and he left open the possibility that a week of rest could end up being the most beneficial option for Fant.
Coach Saleh gives an update on George Fant with the knee that has been bothering him: pic.twitter.com/DORD54KXth
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 26, 2022
Fant’s lingering knee issues could be playing a role in his ice-cold start to the 2022 season. He’s given up 13 pressures this year, tied for the most among all NFL tackles. It is a massive step back for him after he allowed 18 pressures in 15 games last year.
Against Cincinnati, Fant was replaced by Conor McDermott, who struggled mightily in relief. McDermott allowed 5 pressures in the second half alone, including a crucial strip-sack. McDermott has now allowed 7 sacks over 339 pass-blocking snaps with the Jets, which is extremely poor.
Facing the possibility of McDermott starting at left tackle next Sunday in a game that could feature the return of Zach Wilson, the Jets decided to make a move.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Jets are signing Mike Remmers to their practice squad. Pelissero says the plan is for Remmers to join the active roster “in the next week or so” once he’s up to speed.
Veteran tackle Mike Remmers is signing to the #Jets practice squad and will be on their active roster in the next week or so once he's up to speed, per his agent @TesslerSports.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 26, 2022
Remmers, 33, is a 10th-year veteran with 100 career starts under his belt (90 regular season and 10 playoffs). He last played for the Chiefs in 2021.
Remmers has bounced around throughout his career, playing for five different teams. The Oregon State product is infamous for his struggles in two Super Bowl losses (2015 with Panthers and 2020 with Chiefs).
Still, for your fifth offensive tackle option, it’s hard to do better than a guy who has started 100 games and had some success at times. Remmers actually has pretty good numbers despite his shaky reputation. Over the last two seasons, Remmers allowed a pressure rate of only 4.8%, which is better than average for a tackle.
Give Jets general manager Joe Douglas credit. He’s done the best he can to manage the Jets’ incredibly bad injury luck at the tackle position. Rather than accepting these injuries and rolling with what he’s got, Douglas has worked hard to find the best available upgrades, knowing how important this position is for the development of Wilson.
