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With so much attention on Aaron Rodgers play, and rightfully so, perhaps the play of some other players is getting obscured.
For the second game in a row, Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker showed that he’s back in the groove that made him an emerging star at the guard position back in 2021, before the injury bug bit him two years in a row, playing out of position at tackle.
His first game back off an Achilles injury suffered in Week 5 of the 2023 season, the 2024 opener at the San Francisco 49ers, was a pedestrian performance, which was understandable, after not playing in a football game for a year.
But the last two games, you saw why Jets GM Joe Douglas traded up to the 14th slot in the 2021 first round to pick the former USC star.
A couple examples:
In the first quarter, on a Breece Hall run up the middle for 10 yards, Vera-Tucker pulled to the second level and took out safety Kyle Duggar, helping open the big hole.
In the second quarter, on a Braelon Allen run for 11 yards off right guard, Vera-Tucker looked up Patriots defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale, opening up the initial hole and the rookie freight train was off and running.
Vera-Tucker pass protection was good as well.
This guy is a rare talent at the guard position.
Another rare talent is defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
While there is room for improvement for the Jets’ run defense, especially in the first two games, it’s hard to anoint much blame on him for this. The Jets rotate their defensive tackles a lot, and many of the run support issues were when he was off the field.
Kinlaw did a lot of good things against New England, including as a pass rusher.
Early in the third quarter, Kinlaw had a QB pressure, hitting QB Jacoby Brissett as he threw, on third-and-four, causing an incompletion, making New England punt. Kinlaw also had a sack in the fourth quarter to end a drive.
The 6-5, 330-pound native of Trinidad and Tobago, is looking like a steal in free agency. He is playing like the 49ers envisioned when they made him the 14th pick overall in the 2020 draft. He didn’t realize his potential in San Francisco due to lingering knee issues, but he’s healthy now, and wrecking havoc in the middle of the Jets defensive line . . .
The Jets got some good news with the announcement by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo that right tackle Morgan Moses will miss just 2-4 weeks with the knee injury suffered against New England. Rapoport and Garafolo, who had a photo finish in breaking the news on X, said Moses has an MCL Sprain and bone bruise.
As we reported after the game, while he was limping, Moses had no brace or wrap on his knee, and no ice, so while he was banged up, the knee injury didn’t seem to be major.
Moses has a reputation over the years of playing with injuries. During his time with Washington, from 2014-20, his reputation for playing hurt was off-the-charts. He’s old-school in his regard, so don’t expect him to be sidelined long.
And the Jets essentially have the equivalent to a Lloyd’s of London insurance policy backing up both their starting tackles in Olu Fashanu, so they should be okay . . .
Aaron Rodgers was asked in the summer if he was excited to throw to Garrett Wilson this season, and he said, “I like to throw to the open guy.”
In other words, he’s not going to force it to anybody. And while Wilson contributed to the Jets’ win over New England, including a spectacular TD grab with CB Christian Gonzalez in tight coverage, with the extra coverage attention he was setting, Rodgers took advantage of the fact that tight end Tyler Conklin was getting lighter coverage, and connected with the tight end five times, including on three 22-yard completions.
So unlike last year where the Jets would often throw to Wilson whether he was open or not, Rodgers isn’t going to do that.
September 23, 2024
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