During the last two seasons, the Jets‘ offensive line has been decimated by injuries.
Alijah Vera-Tucker has also been affected by the injury bug. He has played just 12 of 34 games in the previous two seasons.
However, Vera-Tucker is getting his strength back and is running after his Achilles injury last October.
“I really can’t speak on training camp or Week 1,” Vera-Tucker said. “But what I can tell you guys, I feel really good. I’m getting a lot of strength back in my calf and lower leg muscles.
“Running, cutting, doing all of that, and doing some O-Line drills outside of team stuff. So I’m feeling really good and definitely on pace to have a good start to the season.”
Last season, the Jets led the NFL in offensive line combinations (14 in 17 games). In 2022, 11 different players started games on the offensive line.
“It is not a topic of conversation,” Vera-Tucker said about the team’s offensive line injuries. “I think the last couple of years haven’t been fortunate for us.
“The kind of things that you can’t control, and it is out of our hands. A lot of the guys from last year stepped up, played their role and did a great job. We got a lot of experience from guys who took those reps last year.”
In two years, the Jets lost Vera-Tucker to two season-ending injuries. He only played five games before tearing his Achilles during a win against the Broncos on Oct. 8. Vera-Tucker also suffered a triceps tear that limited him to seven games in 2022.
Before his injuries, Vera-Tucker was a Swiss Army Knife on the Jets’ offensive line. He has played every offensive line position outside of center.
That’s why the Jets, despite his recent injuries, picked up his 2025 fifth-year option, which will be worth $15.3 million.
“I was first and foremost, blessed,” Vera-Tucker said. “I got to celebrate with my wife out here, so that was real cool. A lot of people hit me up, so I appreciate that and everybody who showed love to me in the past.
“It’s another opportunity to be in that Jets uniform, which I love to be in. I love playing for this organization.”
But the Jets want to keep Vera-Tucker at one spot in 2024, which will be at right guard following the team’s free-agent additions this offseason.
Tyron Smith was signed to play left tackle, and John Simpson was brought in to play left guard. The Jets also acquired right tackle Morgan Moses in a trade with the Ravens.
With Smith and Moses both 33, the Jets also brought in extra insurance after selecting Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu 11th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I expect it to be a real great improvement,” Vera-Tucker said about the team’s offensive line. “We have a Hall of Famer on the left side.
“You got Morgan Moses, a decorated right tackle in the league, and John Simpson, too. A lot of guys in the room who are just putting their head down, working, grinding and we know the type of unit we have in that room.
“We know the opportunity is there, we can’t waste it. Everybody has to stay healthy, that’s the main thing. Moving forward, we expect a lot of goals set for ourselves.”
