News out of training camp regarding New York Jets tackle Mekhi Becton has gone from bad to worse in a hurry. After initial reports regarding his right knee injury indicated that perhaps he had avoided serious injury, further testing has revealed that Becton suffered an avulsion fracture of the right knee cap.
Becton is scheduled to meet with a surgeon on Wednesday, but according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, it is feared that he will be lost for the season:
#Jets OT Mekhi Becton has suffered an avulsion fracture of the right knee cap, per me and @MikeGarafolo. He’s seeing a surgeon tomorrow, but likely is out for the year. Brutal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
Now the Jets have to decide how to replace Becton at the right tackle spot. The team drafted Max Mitchell out of Louisiana in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, and they also have Chuma Edoga on the roster, who was their third-round selection in 2019. Both could be options to replace Becton from within if he is indeed lost for the season.
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed confidence in both players after Becton’s injury:
Saleh also expressed confidence in Chuma Edoga and Max Mitchell. Didn't mention Duane Brown. #Jets https://t.co/kjJyAEWc3u
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 9, 2022
Mitchell made Touchdown Wire’s list of the top offensive tackles in the 2022 NFL draft. Here is what our Doug Farrar had to say about him, while drawing a comparison to Jack Conklin:
Mitchell’s testing numbers were not great in Indianapolis. His testing comps, per MockDraftable.com, do not impress. But there’s something about his tape that appeals to me, and makes me think that he has a role as a starting tackle on the right NFL team. He’s shown enough functional versatility, and he has enough good tape against quality opponents, to allow pro evaluators to estimate a bright future.
Perhaps that future might need to come sooner that expected.