Another day, another practice where there are continued growing concerns about the offensive line for the Jets. This time, it was during their joint practice Wednesday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which quarterback Aaron Rodgers was sacked “at least six times,” according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.
To add some context, Cimini tweeted during practice that Rodgers was sacked six times in a period of 10 dropbacks. Either way, that’s not a good look for the offense.
Now, a key to remember is that the Jets didn’t have their full line up front. Both starting guards, Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker, did not practice Wednesday. Joe Tippmann was at left guard and Wes Schweitzer was at right guard.
Still, it wasn’t a great day at all up front and now the entire unit, including the depth, is becoming a major question mark yet again.
Rodgers downplayed the concerns while speaking to the media Wednesday.
“It’s August 16th, Rodgers said, via Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. “We’ve got some time. Also, it’s coming up. I don’t get concerned heavily about things I don’t have a huge role in yet. Now, that might change. At some point I might say I need the five who are going to be in there to be in there with me for a solid week. But I don’t think we’re at that point yet because I don’t think there are five guys that have earned those spots … I’m going to have some patience with that.”
He may have some patience now, but the season starts in less than a month and it’s a tough stretch to begin the season. The Jets need as good of a start as they can get, which means the line has to be on their game. You have to wonder at what point that patience will begin to wear thin.