The New York Jets’ offensive line took a massive hit ahead of the 2025 season.
Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a “triceps injury that requires surgery,” which will force him to miss the entirety of the 2025 season, per NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Apparently, the solution to the Jets’ problems is right in front of their face.
A-to-Z NFL analyst Kyle Crabbs singled out Jets offensive lineman Josh Myers for being “one of the most overlooked free agent signings of this past offseason [who] now has a chance to be a hero.”
Combination of Luck and Patience Set to Pay off for Jets
Myers, 27, signed a one-year deal with a maximum value of $3.5 million to join the Jets this offseason.
Since the former Ohio State product entered the league back in 2021 as the No. 62 overall pick in the second round, he has been a full-time starter.
Across his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Myers racked up 56 starts.
“Yet, despite playing as a serviceable starter in Green Bay over that stretch, Myers found himself with little to no appeal on the free agent market,” Crabbs wrote. “Myers was a 26-year-old veteran in the prime of his career, who mysteriously found little in the way of a market. That’s fair to assume based on the one-year contract he signed in New York.”
Jets Set to Cash in on Free Agency Investment
Myers signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million. There is an additional $2 million he can make via playing time incentives. Even if he maxes out his contract, Myers is still only the No. 18 highest-paid center in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
“That cheap of a contract, while names like Aaron Banks and Will Fries are pushing $20 million a season on new deals, suggests that Myers was an afterthought. The Jets, even at the cost of Myers maxing out his performance incentives, appear to still have a hell of a bargain on their hands — one that must now prove himself as a starter with another chance to cash in next offseason,” Crabbs explained.
“If Myers plays well in New York, don’t expect him to be playing for such a cheap contract once again in 2026. He’ll need to prove himself the savior of New York’s big plans up front first, though,” Crabbs added.
The Likely New Offensive Line for the Jets Heading Into the Season
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed what the projected Jets offensive line looks like post-AVT injury news.
Left tackle Olu Fashanu, left guard John Simpson, center Josh Myers, right guard Joe Tippmann, and right tackle Armand Membou.
The top reserves for the Jets across the line include: Chukwuma Okorafor, Max Mitchell, Xavier Newman, and Esa Pole.
The Jets also have three offensive linemen on the practice squad they could turn to in Marquis Hayes, Kohl Levao, and German hog molly Leander Wiegand.
The #Jets projected OL in light of the AVT news:
LT Olu Fashanu
LG John Simpson
C Josh Myers
RG Joe Tippmann
RT Armand Membou
Backups: OT Chukwuma Okorafor, T/G Max Mitchell, G Xavier Newman, OT Esa PolePractice Squad: G Marquis Hayes, G Kohl Levao, OL Leander Wiegand https://t.co/RB6EIh23pU
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 3, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
An Afterthought Move Could Save the Jets’ Season
Jets fans assumed that when Myers was added, he was nothing more than a depth piece. After the devastating AVT injury right before the year, Meyers is set to step up in a critical role.
Not a lot of teams have a 56-game starter waiting in the wings to step up in case of an injury. The Jets’ overlooked free agent addition should allow this unit to survive.
ESPN radio host Jake Asman joined me on “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital” and explained that this offensive line sans AVT can still be very good.
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