One of the New York Jets‘ best young players has been ruled out for the rest of the 2024 season.
During his Tuesday media availability, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that left tackle Olu Fashanu will miss the team’s remaining two games with a foot injury. Fashanu injured his foot in the Jets’ 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium in Week 16.
Soon after, reports and the team said that the injury was plantar fascia and that Fashanu would fully recover without surgery.
“Yeah, Olu’s going to go to IR. Unfortunately, his season is done,” Ulbrich told the media. “He’s having a great rookie season, but at the same time, these injuries sometimes give you an opportunity to step back and really start absorbing some of the information. He was kind of thrown into the fire, and he’ll use it as an opportunity to grow. I know that.”
It is an unfortunate development for the standout rookie, yet the news that surgery isn’t required is undoubtedly positive.
Since his insertion into the starting lineup, the Penn State product has shut down any opposition in the passing game. On the season, he has only allowed one sack and has not allowed one over the past six weeks.
Fashanu has not been perfect, as he has allowed 23 pressures on the season and has been up and down in the run game. But for a rookie season, the potential left-side anchor has shown the promise and skillset to be a long-term piece for the Jets.
New York allowed the 2024 season to count as another lost one, but Olu Fashanu’s play has provided a tremendous reason for fans to feel good about the offensive line.
