Brace yourselves Jets fans, as reports out of training camp surrounding the health of starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker aren’t overly optimistic at the moment.
Vera-Tucker is believed to have suffered a torn triceps during Tuesday’s practice, which could mean season ending surgery prior to Week 1. The 26 year old is currently seeking a second opinion to determine if there are any less invasive options available.
At a minimum, Vera-Tucker will miss the team’s opener vs. his old teammate Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. How much more time the former USC Trojan will miss beyond that is anyone’s guess at this point.
The injury isn’t new to Vera-Tucker, as he suffered a season ending triceps injury back in 2022 as well. However that one was to his opposite arm according to reports.
With Vera-Tucker out, Joe Tippmann could see time at right guard, while Josh Myers slides over to centre. However, losing the 6’5″, 308lbs lineman is a massive blow to the Jets offensive line, as Vera-Tucker was arguably the team’s best athlete up front.
An extended absence would also put additional pressure on rookie right tackle Armand Membou, who will play a prominent role with the team in 2025. Having Vera-Tucker beside him on the right side was an attempt by the team to ease the 7th overall selection’s transition from the college ranks to the NFL.
Vera-Tucker’s durability has been an issue at the professional level, as he played just 12 games combined in 2022 and 2023 due to the aforementioned triceps issue and an achilles injury. If he were to miss the upcoming season, that would mean he’s suited up for just 43 games across his 5 year career, averaging out to being available for just 8.6 games a year.
The former Morris Trophy winner is currently playing on his 5th year option, and is slated to become a free agent at season’s end. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had previously told reporters he was hopeful the team could hammer out an extension with the talented lineman. However, if Vera-Tucker does in fact miss all of 2025, his future with the organization would suddenly become much murkier.
Photo: MattCC716. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.