Jets Overhaul Offensive Line Configuration against Patriots

Gang Green switches two starters' positions while welcoming rookie into starting lineup

In the wake of starting left tackle Duane Brown landing on Injured Reserve, the New York Jets took the field with a significantly reshuffled offensive line in Week 3 against the New England Patriots. 

The Jets flipped tackle Mekhi Becton to the left side to fill the spot vacated by Brown. The move was a major pivot from the viewpoint that Jets' third-year head coach Robert Saleh shared on Friday. 

"He [Becton] has been practicing a certain way this entire week, so to move him in the last second would be irresponsible on our part," said Saleh. 

Switching another starter's position, the Green & White kicked right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker out to right tackle where Becton had been since mid-August. At right guard, second-round rookie Joe Tippmann received his first career NFL start.

On Sunday the Jets' front five from left to right started out as follows: LT Becton, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Connor McGovern, RG Tippmann and RT Vera-Tucker.

"Like I said, we have been operating a certain way with Duane and to move guys in the last second would be irresponsible to all of them, to say today, lets change everything today or tomorrow even, so what we have is what we have," said Saleh two days prior to kickoff. Brown was not yet on IR at the time.

The initial thought was that veteran Billy Turner would slide in at left tackle for the immediate future with the rest of the line remaining in the spots they manned during Weeks 1 and 2. Obviously, the Jets opted for a more dramatic upheaval.

Gang Green went three-and-out on its first offensive series of the game. Quarterback Zach Wilson was pressured into a third-down incompletion. 

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