As the New York Jets‘ week continues, the team is busy preparing for a Week 1 showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unfortunately for Gang Green, they may be tracking to not have a key player both now and possibly later.
According to a Wednesday morning report from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, star guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has a “potentially serious” injury.
Jets Star Alijah Vera-Tucker Suffers Injury in Week 1 of Season
Russini first broke the news on X.
“Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has suffered a potentially serious injury and could miss significant time, source says,” Russini’s tweet began. “New York’s offensive line takes a hit ahead of its Week 1 game against the Steelers. Vera-Tucker was just named a captain for Aaron Glenn.”
Vera-Tucker is reportedly undergoing further tests to determine the exact severity of the injury. Russini and Zack Rosenblatt, who covers the Jets for The Athletic, write that the guard’s season “is in jeopardy” as of Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that a second opinion is in play and Vera-Tucker “might now need surgery.”
As Nick Faria of Jets X-Factor conveyed via X, this truly is a massive blow for New York. Vera-Tucker is hands-down the club’s best lineman at the moment. Penciled in to start at right guard, the former first-round pick is a stabilizing force. He’s a mainstay along the offensive front — any absence would be a huge one. Injuries have already limited him in both 2022 and 2023.
Ahead of Week 1, Vera-Tucker commented on being named a Jets team captain.
“Yeah, man, that was a really cool feeling,” Vera-Tucker said. “I told the guys I really appreciate them for voting me as a captain. That’s special to me, especially when it’s the teammates voting for you. Being able to be captain now at all three levels of my playing career, it’s the best feeling. I’m grateful for it. I just feel really blessed about it.”
Assessing Vera-Tucker & New York’s Post-Injury Landscapes
It’s also a big-time sting for Vera-Tucker himself. He was just starting to play himself into some elite company. Across 15 starts a season ago, he logged over 900 snaps as a blocker on offense.
According to Pro Football Focus, Vera-Tucker surrendered just 8 hurries and 16 pressures overall in pass protection. He was the outlet’s No. 15 graded overall guard, as well as their No. 17 one for run blocking and No. 19 guard for pass blocking. Despite that, he didn’t make the Pro Bowl. Many believe he remains underrated entering this year.
There are financial implications at play, too. Currently on his fifth-year option, Vera-Tucker counts for $15.3 million against the Jets’ salary cap. Had he played out a full season in 2025, he’d be a prime candidate for an elite-level payday from New York or another club. Now, a third significant injury in a handful of years makes that path more difficult to access.
Should Vera-Tucker indeed miss a chunk of time, the Jets have options. One of them, perhaps the most logical, could be moving center Joe Tippmann over to guard. Not only is he a capable piece there, but the franchise signed Josh Myers during the offseason as competition for him. He can fill in at center if New York slides Tippmann over one spot.
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