More details have emerged regarding the devastating arm injury suffered by New York Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it has been confirmed that Vera-Tucker suffered a torn triceps that will knock him out “indefinitely” and land him on injured reserve. Rapoport did not confirm with the utmost certainty that the injury is season-ending, but he did say it will “almost certainly” end Vera-Tucker’s season.
Rapoport adds that the injury was suffered during a one-on-one drill in practice.
It is a heartbreaking blow for the 26-year-old lineman from USC. This is the third time in four seasons that Vera-Tucker has suffered a serious injury that will cost him at least 10 games. Unless he surprisingly suits up this season, Vera-Tucker will have played just 27 out of 68 possible games from 2022 to 2025.
Vera-Tucker is extremely talented when on the field, displaying some of the best athleticism and technique you will see from the guard position. Unfortunately, he was unable to land a long-term extension with the Jets due to concerns about his durability. Those concerns were only validated with his latest injury.
With Vera-Tucker sidelined, the Jets’ offensive line will undergo a shift entering its Week 1 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Projected starting center Joe Tippmann is expected to slide over to Vera-Tucker’s right guard spot, while Josh Myers is expected to fill in for Tippmann at center.
The good news for New York is that its offensive line is uniquely equipped to handle this specific injury. Tippmann, who is already a good center, projects as an even better right guard. The Jets might only experience a small drop-off from Vera-Tucker to Tippmann at right guard.
It’s at center where the Jets will experience a drop-off. The swap is essentially Vera-Tucker for Myers. The former Packers center is a decent pass blocker, but the Jets will feel the impact in the run game, where Myers struggles.
Still, as a four-year starter in Green Bay who performed at the level of a low-level starter, Myers is one of the better backup centers in the league. Many teams would have a much worse backup coming into the lineup in this situation, and few teams would have a good center who can slide over and play just as good or better at right guard.
For New York, Tippmann’s versatility is a major benefit because it allows the Jets to push the downgrade over to the least valuable offensive line spot. If the Jets had to swap out Vera-Tucker for a backup right guard, it would hurt more than inserting a backup center, as guard is a more valuable position than center. Instead, the Jets hope to nearly achieve a wash at right guard while suffering a downgrade at center instead.
The Jets are built to survive this injury, but it does not change the harsh reality that the unit’s ceiling has now been significantly lowered. Vera-Tucker was arguably the Jets’ best lineman, and his season is likely over. It is a significant loss, no matter how you slice it.
But if the Jets’ new coaching staff is what fans hope it to be, it will find a way to navigate through an injury to one offensive lineman. First-year offensive line coach Steve Heiden has a chance to prove he can do what predecessors like Keith Carter and John Benton could not: establish a well-oiled machine that continues churning through adversity.
UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Vera-Tucker will undergo season-ending surgery on his torn triceps.
