Mekhi Becton is still hungry after winning New York Jets’ starting RT job for the preseason finale
As confirmed by head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday afternoon, Mekhi Becton will start for the New York Jets at right tackle in the team’s preseason finale against the New York Giants. While Becton has not yet been confirmed as the Jets’ starting right tackle for the season opener against Buffalo, he is on the verge of sealing the deal.
That doesn’t mean Becton is satisfied.
Speaking to the media about earning the starting right tackle position for Saturday’s game, Becton channeled one of Kobe Bryant’s most famous quotes.
"The job's not finished yet. It's cool and all, but I still want to keep building."
Mekhi Becton on drawing the start at RT on Saturday: pic.twitter.com/PNcqqnuzmO
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 22, 2023
“The job’s not finished yet,” Becton said. “I still got a lot of things I got to work on. It’s cool and all, but I still want to keep building and stacking on where I’m at right now.”
After the Lakers went up 2-0 over the Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals, Bryant famously stated, “What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished. Job finished? I don’t think so.”
— Dylan (@nyjetsfansonly) August 22, 2023
It’s an admirable mentality from the young Becton, who could easily revel in this moment after all it took for him to get here. The 24-year-old understands there is still a long way to go on the road to reaching his sky-high ceiling.
Becton credited his one-year-old son for giving him the motivation to push through his adversity and get to the position he is in now.
Mekhi Becton talks about his journey over the last few years, and credits his young son for helping him push through adversity: pic.twitter.com/fTnx2MLdrr
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 22, 2023
Finally, Becton spoke about his connection with Aaron Rodgers. Becton confirmed he had lunch with Rodgers in the team cafeteria on Monday, to the delight of Jets fans who watched the previous episode of Hard Knocks. In the episode, Rodgers is seen hugging Becton during the Jets’ second preseason game and proposing the two should have lunch.
Mekhi Becton had lunch yesterday with Aaron Rodgers:
"That's probably going to be a recurring thing" pic.twitter.com/3THytLpVqP
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 22, 2023
The Jets’ starting offensive line is finally starting to round itself into form. Duane Brown is getting tests on his shoulder today and will return to practice this week if all goes well. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laken Tomlinson returned to practice.
Barring any setbacks, the Jets will start an offensive line of (left to right) Brown, Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Vera-Tucker, and Becton in front of Aaron Rodgers on Saturday. If all goes according to plan, the same unit will likely take the field against Buffalo on September 11.
