Jets left tackle Mekhi Becton didn’t play a snap after dislocating his kneecap in Week 1, but the Jets are hopeful that the 2020 first-round pick will be ready to go for the start of organized team activities (OTAs) this spring, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
The injury was only supposed to keep Becton out for 4-8 weeks, but he ended up missing the last 17 weeks of the 2021 season. Garafolo said that “the knee wasn’t coming along as quickly as [the Jets] had hoped.” Unable to practice, Becton put on weight.
Becton’s size has been a talking point throughout his young career. He’s listed at 6-foot-7, 363 pounds. His frame makes him a bully in the trenches, but maintaining an ideal playing weight has been a challenge. The Jets haven’t made Becton available for comment since the injury and haven’t provided any real updates on his status.
New York got lucky, as George Fant stepped up nicely in Becton’s place on the left side. Fant allowed just 18 pressures, the third-fewest among tackles with at least 500 pass-block snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Becton’s health could play into the Jets’ offseason plans. New York has more than $50 million in salary cap space, as well as two top-10 picks and two more second-round picks in this year’s draft. If the Jets don’t think Becton’s knee and weight are progressing, they could look for a replacement or keep Fant on the left side permanently.
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