Injuries continue to stockpile for the New York Jets despite win over Giants
Even with the New York Jets winning a crazy game on Sunday, they did not leave the matchup unscathed.
The Jets had veteran defensive tackle Al Woods exit with an Achilles injury. They also lost offensive linemen Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer to knee and calf injuries, respectively.
After the game, Robert Saleh announced that Woods was “done” for the season with his injury. He also said that the team will know more tomorrow about the severity of the injuries to McGovern and Schweitzer.
While nothing official has been announced about the statuses of the linemen, reports came out post-game about Schweitzer leaving the locker room on crutches with a boot on his right foot. It was also reported that McGovern left the stadium with a cast on his leg.
Connor McGovern had a cast on his leg and was limping pretty heavily in the locker room.
Wes Schweitzer had a boot and crutches. #Jets
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) October 29, 2023
Today’s game only added to the Jets’ injury woes. The team was already missing Aaron Rodgers, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Joe Tippmann, and Duane Brown on offense. By losing two more linemen to injury, the team now has their work cut out for them to reshape a unit that has required constant reshuffling for multiple years.
With McGovern and Schweitzer exiting Sunday’s game, the Jets called on Xavier Newman and Billy Turner to replace them. Newman first came in for Schweitzer at right guard when Schweitzer slid to center in McGovern’s place. Once Schweitzer went down, Newman moved to center while Turner replaced him at right guard.
Newman, 24, was signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2022. He played three games with the Titans in 2023 until he was waived on October 2. Three days later, he signed with the Jets’ practice squad. Sunday’s win over the Giants marked Newman’s first appearance with New York and just his fifth career regular season appearance in the NFL.
Whether it is getting Tippmann back from injury or making moves before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Jets need to ensure that their offensive line is serviceable at a minimum. Sunday’s win was significant for the Jets, but to continue their success, the front office must do whatever is necessary to give its talented roster a chance to play up to its potential.
