Content available exclusively for subscribers
A couple of things to look at . . .
Brandon Shell suffered a serious knee injury against Houston and is out for the year.
Todd Bowles was asked today if Brent Qvale would replace Shell and said: “It’s early in the week. We’re still trying to figure that out.”
“Forgot they also claimed OT Eric Smith off waivers from the Patriots yesterday. He also has experience at RT,” wrote one beat writer.
On Tuesday, the Jets signed offensive tackle Eric Smith off the Patriots’ practice squad. He has been on the Patriots’ practice squad since the beginning of the season.
With all due respect to my beat writer friend who is just trying to take an objective view of the situation, there is no way Eric Smith is starting at right tackle for the Jets this week.
Coach Bowles is doing what he always does – not announcing his lineup plans to the media.
Qvale is the Jets’ right tackle with Shell out.
They aren’t starting a guy who just got there and doesn’t know the offense.
Plus Qvale is a good player. There is very little difference in talent-level between Shell and Qvale.
Qvale is a starting quality right tackle. He just happens to be on a team with another starting quality right tackle in Shell.
Three plays after taking over for Shell, Qvale had the key block on a Eli McGuire 14 yard run off right tackle, and the tailback ran into this big hole.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some team signed Qvale this off-season to be their starting right tackle. He’s ready to be a full-time starting right tackle.
Maybe the Jets give him a solid offer with the Shell injury. Since Shell was hurt so late in the 2018 season, it probably puts his availability for the start of next season at risk.
While the injury to Shell is unfortunate, it should not impact the Jets at the position too much with Qvale on the roster . . .
Jets put outside linebacker Jerry Attaochu on injured reserve with a concussion and promoted inside linebacker Anthony Wint from their practice squad.
Wint, is an undrafted free agent from Florida International University (FIU), who earned a contract after a tryout at rookie minicamp.
Two of the Jets’ better rookies were actually guys who weren’t even signed after the draft, but players who came to their rookie mini-camp as tryouts – Wint and outside linebacker Frankie Luvu.
Wint was so impressive this summer he could have made the roster, but the Jets had their four inside linebackers set, with Avery Williamson, Darron Lee, Kevin Pierre-Louis and Neville Hewitt.
So Wint spent most of this season on the practice squad.
Wint is an instinctive seek-and-destroy inside linebacker who does a nice job moving through the clutter and getting to the ball carrier.
He has the body armor to shed blocks. Other inside linebacker don’t.
He’s probably not going to play on defense barring injury, but he could help the Jets on special teams. He has special teams-whiz written all over him.
December 19, 2018
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.