Injuries overshadow strong debut for Jets QB Zach Wilson
NEW YORK — Stop if you’ve heard this before: The New York Jets are dealing with major injuries to a few key players.
And it’s only Week 2. Left tackle Mekhi Becton will be sidelined at least a month with a knee injury, and safety Lamarcus Joyner is out for the season with a torn triceps.
Coach Robert Saleh confirmed the injuries Monday, a day after the Jets fell 19-14 at Carolina in their season opener — taking some of the shine off what was a promising NFL debut for rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.
Becton, the No. 11 overall
pick last year, will be out for what Saleh said is a minimum of four to six weeks with a dislocated right kneecap.
“Everything else seems to be intact,” Saleh said.
Saleh added Becton is still being evaluated and seeking a second opinion to determine if he’ll need surgery. NFL Network reported Becton also has a sprained MCL.
Becton was hurt when he was rolled into during Wilson’s first NFL touchdown pass, a 22-yard toss to Corey Davis with 1:25 left in the third quarter.
“Positive vibes only!” Becton wrote on Twitter on Monday. “I’ll be good!”
George Fant, who started Sunday at right tackle, will fill in on the left side during Becton’s absence as he did against the Panthers. Morgan Moses, signed as a free agent during the offseason, takes over at right tackle.
“There’s a shuffling that has to happen,” Saleh said. “We’re very fortunate we have three legitimate starting tackles.“
Joyner, another offseason free-agent signing, was hurt in the first half. He was expected to team with Marcus Maye to give the Jets a veteran safety tandem that would help a young, inexperienced cornerbacks group.
New York is suddenly thin at safety with Joyner sidelined. Veteran Sharrod Neasman (hamstring) and second-year safety Ashtyn Davis are both on injured reserve. That leaves just Sheldrick Redwine, who replaced Joyner on Sunday, and Adrian Colbert and Jarrod Wilson on the practice squad.
Saleh acknowledged the Jets “for sure” will be exploring various roster moves over the next few days.
That includes finding another punter since Braden Mann will be sidelined four to six weeks with a sprained left knee. He left against Carolina after his first punt, when his leg was rolled into. Kicker Matt Ammendola replaced him and averaged 48.5 yards per kick despite not having ever punted in a game in college or high school.
Linebackers Jamien Sherwood (sprained ankle) and Blake Cashman (hamstring) will be sidelined a few weeks.