AVT happy to skip trip to Rockies
Jets need O-lineman to finally avoid injury
When Alijah Vera-Tucker saw the Jets’ 2024 schedule, he was happy to see there won’t be a trip to Denver this year.
Instead, the Broncos are coming to MetLife Stadium. Vera-Tucker has suffered season-ending injuries in each of the last two seasons in Denver. He is in no rush to return to the Mile High City.
“I would have told Joe [Douglas] I’m not playing,” Vera-Tucker said this month. “I’m glad they’re coming out here this time.”
Vera-Tucker, 24, has been one of the Jets’ best offensive linemen for the past three seasons. The problem has been he has only been on the field for 12 games over the past two seasons. In 2022, his season ended with a torn triceps injury in Week 8. Last season, it was a torn Achilles tendon in Week 5. Both injuries came in Denver and the Jets offensive line fell apart after losing Vera-Tucker in both seasons.
The Jets took Vera-Tucker in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He immediately showed his skill as the starting left guard as a rookie. He then moved to right guard in 2022 when the team signed Laken Tomlinson. Soon, his full versatility was on display as the Jets played him at left and right tackle due to injuries to starters there. Last season, he was at right guard to start the year and then moved to right tackle.
While Vera-Tucker has shown he can play all over the line, the Jets are worried the jumping around may have led to his injuries. That is why the plan in 2024 is to give him a position and keep him there.
“We want to get him at one spot,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said the day after the season ended. “A lot of reasons to believe that some of the injuries are because of … his curse is his ability to move from one spot to another, right? His versatility and not sure if that’s contributing to why he got hurt the last two years. His first year he played one position and stayed healthy the whole year, so whatever we decide, whether it’s left guard, right guard, right tackle, left tackle, we want him to stay in that spot and never move through hell or high water, regardless of injury, to give him the chance to play and stay healthy for 2024.”
What position Vera-Tucker ends up at remains to be seen. The Jets are revamping their offensive line this offseason. They could take the approach of putting Vera-Tucker in the spot that they don’t fill through free agency or the draft. In other words, if they find a guard they like and sign, Vera-Tucker could be the starting right tackle. If they find a tackle they like, Vera-Tucker could be at guard.
Vera-Tucker said he has no preference where he plays.
“I was doing what I thought was best for myself and the team, as well,” Vera-Tucker said. “I was able to show my versatility — show that I am able to play guard and tackle. I’m happy I did. If I could go back now, I wouldn’t change a thing. I think going into next year my mindset is really what I want to do is just stay healthy. That’s all I want.”
The Jets will have to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option on Vera-Tucker by May. The injuries are the only reason to even consider declining it, but the Jets will likely pick it up. Vera-Tucker has been a rare bright spot along the offensive line for the Jets when he’s been healthy.
Vera-Tucker said the doctors have not told him when he will be ready to play again, but he sounded encouraged at the end of the season. He planned on taking up yoga and Pilates this offseason as part of his workout routine.
After two frustrating seasons, Vera-Tucker is hoping for a healthy 2024 and so are the Jets.
“My opportunity will come. I know it will,” Vera-Tucker said. “All I’ve got to do is stay locked in and wait for my moment and take advantage of it.”
➤ The Jets hired Tony Dews as their new running backs coach Friday, according to sources. Dews comes to the Jets from the Titans, where he was the tight ends coach last year. He had been the Tennessee running backs coach from 2018-22, working with Derrick Henry. The Jets let Taylor Embree go following the season. They had talked to Duce Staley, who joined the Browns, before hiring Dews.