Jets’ Saleh still has questions about the line in front of Rodgers

Spartanburg, S.C. — One of the most significant question marks entering training camp is the Jets' much-maligned offensive line.

As Gang Green enters its second preseason game against the Panthers, there are more questions than answers.

After a poor performance during their first joint practice against the Panthers on Wednesday, the Jets were hoping to have a better showing on Thursday. However, rain and thunderstorms forced the Jets and Panthers to cancel their second joint practice.

Gang Green did practice independently as the team continues to try and fine-tune the offensive line a month before the start of the regular season.

"My optimistic side will say we have time," Jets coach Robert Saleh said. "Duane (Brown) is coming back, there's still a lot of pieces, we've got some cards in our back pocket that we can use, but as a coach, you want it done yesterday.

"We want these guys rolling, we want confidence, we want to start humming, but I also understand all the different moving parts and verbiage and new scheme. (Jets offensive line coach) Keith (Carter) has a different style to the way he coaches and his technique, so there's a learning curve, so that part of it, I have empathy for and understanding that it is going to take some time for them, but yeah I'm a coach, I always wanted it yesterday.

"We're going to play our best five." The biggest question on the Jets offensive line comes at the two tackle spots. Brown has been on the physically unable to perform list, better known as PUP, since OTAs in late May after offseason shoulder surgery. The expectation is Brown will be ready for the start of the regular season.

However, there's reason for concern as Brown missed five games because of the same shoulder injury last year as he began the 2022 season on injured reserve. Then there's Brown's age. He'll turn 38 at the end of the month.

The Jets offensive line without Brown has rotated Billy Turner and Max Mitchell between left and right tackle throughout training camp. The results have been inconsistent, as pass rushers throughout practices have beaten both Turner and Brown on several occasions.

Those problems on the offensive line continued to show during Wednesday's joint practices, leaving quarterback Aaron Rodgers visibly frustrated. The Jets went three-andout during a two-minute drill as Panthers defenders constantly pressured the quarterback.

Since he was acquired by the Jets in April, Rodgers has been patient as his teammates continue to try to learn the offense while also dealing with missing parts like Brown and Breece Hall, who's also on the PUP list. However, with the season coming closer and closer, it's fair to wonder

how much longer Rodgers will continue to tolerate the Jets offensive line issues.

"We're making strides," Turner said. "There's definitely progress being made. There's a lot of new stuff going in and a lot of stuff guys on the offensive line had never done before, so you're going to have some growing pains.

"All in all, we are definitely making some strides. We gotta be better of course, as we always do, but there's progress being made."

One option the Jets have in their arsenal is potentially switching Alijah Vera-Tucker from right guard to right tackle. Last season, in a year in which the Jets had 11 different players start on the offensive line, Vera-Tucker played at left tackle while Brown was out and then started at right tackle after injuries to George Fant and Max Mitchell.

In his three games at tackle, Vera-Tucker didn't allow a sack or a quarterback hit and was penalized only once. Before that point, Vera-Tucker had never played right tackle before.

Vera-Tucker was on his way to a possible All-Pro season for the Jets last season until a torn triceps ended his season. The Jets plan is to keep Vera-Tucker at one position. But with all the struggles on the line, Saleh has kept the option open of moving Vera-Tucker to right tackle full-time.

"I've said it plenty of times before, I'm going to play wherever the team needs me to play," Vera-Tucker said. "Wherever I fit best on the line.

"Whether that's guard, tackle, it really don't matter to me, I'm going to go out there and do my thing to the fullest. Right now, everything is pretty set, but like last year, things can change in a heartbeat."