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Rich Cimini
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is having season-ending surgery for the third time in four years, and the New York Jets’ offensive line is scrambling only three days before their season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Vera-Tucker, arguably the Jets’ best offensive lineman, tore his triceps Tuesday in practice, coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Thursday. It’s a seven-month rehab, Glenn said, meaning Vera-Tucker will go on injured reserve.
“He was a big player for us, man, but we have to continue to keep rolling,” Glenn said.
Glenn, who makes his head coaching debut, said he’s still evaluating options on how to replace Vera-Tucker. The most likely scenario is moving center Joe Tippmann to right guard and inserting Josh Myers at center.
Tippmann has four career starts at right guard. Myers, who battled Tippmann in an open competition at center, has 56 starts in the middle — all with the Green Bay Packers.
Tippmann declined to comment on where he might play but said he’s “definitely comfortable jumping back and forth. … That [previous time at guard] always stays in the back pocket, so it’s something I do have experience doing. If they need me to, I’ll step up.”
The downside is the Jets will have a relatively inexperienced right side of the line, with Tippmann and rookie first-round pick Armand Membou. They will have a huge challenge in blocking the Steelers’ edge rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, who combined for 17.5 sacks last season.
Durability has been an issue for Vera-Tucker, who has missed extended time in two of his four seasons with the Jets due to various injuries, including a season-ending triceps injury in 2022. This latest triceps injury is to the opposite arm from the one he injured in 2022, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He also missed 12 games in 2023 because of a torn Achilles.
This is a tough blow for Vera-Tucker, 26, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. A first-round draft pick in 2021, he is making a guaranteed $15.3 million — the amount of his fifth-year option.
Vera-Tucker, elected a captain for the first time, is a well-respected player in the locker room. His injury stung his teammates. It happened in a pass-blocking drill in a padded practice.
“It’s something that you just hate to see,” said wide receiver Garrett Wilson, a fellow captain. “I had some great convos with him just leading up to the season, and knowing that he’s not going to be out there with us this season just breaks my heart because he’s someone that goes about everything the right way. … It definitely hurts. It definitely doesn’t make our team better, losing a guy like that.”