Robert Saleh shunned confirming the worst. Mekhi Becton will search a second opinion earlier than the Jets, at the least formally, concede that he gained’t step on the sphere once more till 2023.
However this doesn’t look good. Under no circumstances.
“It’s in all probability the inevitable,” Saleh stated. “However like I stated earlier, simply sick for Mekhi.”
Saleh was talking about one other knee damage ending Becton’s season earlier than it begins, and the ocean of dominos that can fall with that actuality. That encompasses the Jets’ proper deal with place — which turns into an enormous query mark. The crew will rely upon some mixture of Chuma Edoga, Max Mitchell, Conor McDermott and potential signee Duane Brown to supply some sort of reply. It additionally encompasses the rest of Becton’s profession, which is now open to the type of ending Saleh didn't need to talk about on Tuesday.
“On the finish of the day, it sucks,” the Jets coach stated, “for lack of a greater phrase. However nobody cares. You gotta rise up, prepare, subsequent man up, all these dumb clichés in these moments.”
The crew’s preliminary optimism that the damage can be a non-event was based mostly on assessments to search for ACL and MCL points — assessments which confirmed Becton’s knee to be secure, and which turned out to be correct. The analysis is an avulsion fracture of the proper knee cap, which is to say a small chip in his kneecap.
This was meant to be the yr by which Becton, a first-round decide in 2020, confirmed what he might do after lacking all however one sport in 2021. As an alternative, it's one other setback, the sort that makes an eventual ascension all of the extra unlikely. If his eventual return just isn't till subsequent season’s coaching camp, Becton will step onto the observe area in July 2023 having performed one NFL sport since December 2020.
“Every little thing occurs for a purpose,” Becton wrote in an Instagram publish. “I do know God and my Grandma received me up there I JUST KNOW IT!”
“We love Mekhi,” Saleh stated. “We respect every little thing he’s achieved, and his trip just isn't over. His story’s not over, and he’s received full assist of this group.”
For now although, the instant focus turns to the proper deal with spot, the place there isn't any clear reply. Edoga took many of the reps with the primary crew throughout Tuesday’s observe, although Mitchell rotated in. (McDermott is at present coping with a knee challenge of his personal). It was not the very best day for the offensive line, and neither was Monday — when the group struggled each earlier than and after Becton left observe.
Zach Wilson was sacked 44 instances in 13 video games final season and led the league in yardage misplaced as a result of sacks. Issues will not be trying so optimistic on that entrance proper now, although signing Brown — who visited throughout the crew’s Inexperienced and White scrimmage final weekend — can be as affordable a Band-Support because the Jets might hope for proper now.
Saleh was mum on that chance Tuesday, saying solely that he had no replace however “the sentiments are mutual” between Brown and the Jets.
“Chuma, McDermott, Max, who we drafted within the fourth spherical, they gotta get going,” Saleh stated. “We gotta get them prepared. [Offensive line coach] John Benton’s gotta get them prepared.”
As to their readiness proper now, with the preseason opener in Philadelphia only a few days away?
“We’re all a great distance,” Saleh stated. “I’m a protracted option to go as a coach, the play-callers are a protracted option to go as play-callers, each participant has a protracted option to go to get themselves able to play for Week 1 in opposition to Baltimore, who’s received a championship roster.
“We’ve received three preseason video games. We’ve received time. That’s an excellent factor.”
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