After a strong preseason debut, New York Jets rookie tackle Olu Fashanu has taken another step in his NFL development.
According to Jets head coach Robert Saleh, Fashanu practiced at right tackle for the first time on Monday, and the plan is for him to practice there for the next couple of weeks.
Visit our New York Jets News page to stay updated on the latest happenings.
Saleh said recently that they would cross-train Fashanu at right tackle. Today, he practiced at right tackle for the first time, as Saleh noted. Plan is to keep him there for a couple of weeks. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 12, 2024
Saleh recently stated that the Jets were planning to cross-train Fashanu on both sides of the line, but that they wanted to “[make] sure he gets very comfortable” at left tackle first.
“That’s coming. But right now, it’s just a matter of just getting him what we believe he is and making sure he gets very comfortable with that first,” Saleh said last Wednesday. “Once he gets to that level, we’ll start working him in areas where he can advance.”
Based on the decision to begin working Fashanu at right tackle this week, it seems the Jets are convinced that Fashanu was very comfortable at left tackle against Washington. It sure looked like it; Fashanu played the entire first half and allowed zero pressures on 14 pass-blocking snaps.
It makes sense for the Jets to train Fashanu on both sides of the line. With 33-year-old starters at both left tackle (Tyron Smith) and right tackle (Morgan Moses), the Jets need security on each side of the line. After Fashanu, the Jets’ next-best backup tackle is either Max Mitchell or Carter Warren – a large drop-off in talent. By preparing Fashanu to back up both positions, the Jets can avoid a scenario where Moses goes down and they turn to Mitchell or Warren instead of their first-round pick.
