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During the preseason, probably in the second preseason game, Jets 2024 first-round pick, offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, hurt his right elbow.
He was on the practice field today with a brace on that elbow.
The Jets would like him to be their backup swing tackle on game day, backing up at both left and right tackle.
Good chance the elbow doesn’t cause him any issues, but if it did, I was talking to another writer, mulling which side would it be more of an issue.
The other writer thought maybe at left tackle with guys trying to make inside moves on him. I thought maybe at right tackle, with guys trying to take the edge on him because the injury could might hurt the extension of the right arm.
Look, he should be fine, and the Jets hope he doesn’t have to play this week with Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses slated to start at tackle.
The only reason I was evaluating it was because we are talking about a rookie left tackle, learning to play right tackle on the fly, so he can be the backup swing, so having a right elbow injury, can’t be helpful, especially at a new position for him . . .
Robert Saleh is being very, very, very careful with what he says in press conferences.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini asked him how challenging it is to face Kyle Shanahan as an offensive play-caller.
“I’m sorry Rich (Cimini), I’m going to keep my thoughts to myself on that one,” Saleh said.
A few questions later, I asked about the extra challenge of facing Shanahan with the offensive mastermind having four months to prepare after the schedule came out.
“I’ve got my thoughts on that one too, and the things I’ve talked to Brich (Jeff Ulbrich) about, and I’ll leave it at that,” Saleh said.
Neither one of these questions was controversial.
You could just say, “Kyle is a great play-caller, so it’s always a been challenge facing him.”
But Saleh didn’t want to touch this question for whatever reason.
And this is part of him pulling back with the media a little. He’s still friendly and polite, but not as effusive as he used to be.
And maybe fans will be fine with that.
As Elvis Presley sang, “A little less conversation a little more action.”
Saleh is going to let his actions and his team’s actions speak louder than his words.
Also, perhaps another reason he’s pulled back is the “The Athletic” story from January with reportedly 30 sources making the coach and his team look bad.
That story really pissed him off and might have contributed to the coach’s sea-change in his media approach . . .
This could be a complicated thing to write without people thinking I’m crazy, but watching practice all summer, you could make an argument that in San Francisco, Allen Lazard should probably play a little more than Mike Williams.
Before you have me committed, hear me out.
Obviously Williams is the better player, but he has never played in a game with Aaron Rodgers and has barely practiced with the QB.
Lazard has a PhD in Aaron Rodgers 101 after playing five seasons with him in Green Bay.
Lazard had a good camp with Rodgers and the receiver connecting on many big plays.
To use a bad sports cliche, they are truly “on the same page.”
Considering how little Rodgers and Williams have practiced together, and considering the game is on the road at a loud stadium where communication will be of the utmost importance, Lazard playing a little more than Williams this week would not be a bad idea.
Moving forward, as the weeks progress, and Williams gets more comfortable with the system and QB, that should change, obviously.
But if were the Jets, and I’m talking about this particular game, I’d be careful not to faze Lazard out in favor of Williams.
Whether you like Lazard or not, his chemistry with Rodgers is other-worldly. They think as one.
September 5, 2024
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