The New York Jets have already lost their best offensive lineman heading into the 2025 season. Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a torn triceps injury in the week leading up to their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While New York had yet to announce who would replace AVT in the starting lineup, conventional theory was that third-year center Joe Tippmann would move to the spot, while free agent pickup Josh Myers would take over at center.
Head coach Aaron Glenn wouldn’t confirm or deny whether that ruling would be made, though.
Now, just hours before kickoff, we appear to finally have that answer.
Jets make AVT replacement
Connor Hughes of SNY reported Sunday morning that it will, in fact, be Tippmann who gets the start at right guard, while Myers will step in and start at center in front of Justin Fields.
The news isn’t a surprise. When starting left guard John Simpson suffered an injury in training camp, it was Tippmann who moved to guard for their preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers. Myers got the start at center.
With Vera-Tucker out, the Wisconsin product will make the start on the right side of the line instead, where he started four games in his 2023 rookie season. He’ll have his hands full today with Cameron Heyward set to start for Pittsburgh after settling a months-long contract dispute.
New York has not begun its pre-game workouts yet, but the expectation is that we’ll see Tippmann and Myers, who were originally competing for the starting center role, on the field together.
