Tag: Alijah Vera-Tucker

Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker questionable to return vs. Steelers

Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker questionable to return vs. Steelers

The Jets are down an offensive lineman just before halftime against the Steelers.

The team has has announced that Alijah Vera-Tucker has sustained an ankle injury. His return to the game is questionable:

Vera-Tucker was spotted heading to the locker room before the end of the first half. Considering that, he’s not going to potentially return until after the break.

Xavier Newman-Johnson replaced Vera-Tucker in the lineup at guard.

Jets Wire will provide updates as information is made available.

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Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker laid a ridiculous pancake block vs. the Titans (video)

Ouch:

This was a bad moment to be Kenneth Murray Jr.

In the Jets’ 24-17 win over the Titans he got laid out on one play in particular.

More of this please, Alijah Vera-Tucker.

On one drop back from Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Murray bit. He jumped up in the air to swat a pass that never came but Vera-Tucker didn’t mind. He flattened Murray.

Check out Vera-Tucker’s big-time block right here:

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Report card: Jets fall 32-19 to the 49ers

Report card: #Jets fall 32-19 to the #49ers:

The New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers clashed in a Week 1 contest to begin the 2024 NFL season.

The Jets (0-1) ended up falling 32-19 to the Niners (0-1). It was a game that had a lot of hyped around it and Gang Green mostly fell short.

With that, here is Jets Wire’ position-by-position report card grades for Week 1:

Aaron Rodgers finished only 13-for-21 passing with a touchdown and an interception. The giveaway was a tipped ball so we can’t put all that on him. However, his debut 2.0 did not live up to the hype. Turning the free play into a score was the QB’s best moment.

Breece Hall did have a touchdown to cap a positive first drive. After that, he did not get involved enough at all. The offensive line let him down in a big way. Hall did grab five catches in the passing game.

The entire Jets’ tight end group felt invisible. According to Pro Football Focus metrics, Jeremy Ruckert was the top-marked player in this unit at a 60.9 overall grade solely for blocking.

It was a two-sided coin for the Jets offensive line. Rodgers had time to complete some passes but the group was so woeful running that ball that the imbalanced game plan made it difficult on the passing attack. PFF’s top marks in the trenches were handed to Alijah Vera-Tucker (67.5) and John Simpson (66.3).

It was an abysmal effort from the Jets’ defensive front. Two sacks of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came via the secondary. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams only had one quarterback hit while pass rusher Micheal Clemons had a third sack.

Most notably was the poor tackling and failure to close any gaps or set an edge in the ground game as 49ers’ back Jordan Mason ripped off 147 yards on the ground. Unfortunately, Haason Reddick was not acquired to fix the run defense either.

The linebacker round out the front seven and they had their miscues against the run as well. At least their efforts in the passing attack were positive. All-Pro tight end George Kittle has had much better days, he had four catches for 40 yards.

The secondary held up their end of the bargain against the pass for most of the evening despite a poor pass rush helping them. No touchdowns in the air for Purdy, and the defensive backfield did their part in attacking the QB since Tony Adams and Sauce Garder had sacks.

The lack of tackling very much was found in the secondary, bringing this grade down.

Not much out of the kickoff return department. Thomas Morstead had a booming 60-yard punt, at least.

Alijah Vera-Tucker’s return is a big boost for the New York Jets

Alijah Vera-Tucker returns for the New York Jets.

The return of offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker is arguably one of the most significant pieces of news for the New York Jets so far this training camp.

Vera-Tucker returned on Friday and participated in training camp. Head coach Robert Saleh saying that the fourth-year offensive lineman is on a pitch count in terms of his participation.

In October, Vera-Tucker suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

The former first round pick is capable of being a Pro Bowl guard for the Jets. As a rookie in 2021, Vera-Tucker made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Getting him back on the field and healthy on Friday is a huge development for the Jets.

“It was good. It would be more of a question for him and how he felt,” Saleh told reporters.

“But he’s an elite player at that position, so it was good to have him out.”

After quarterback Aaron Rodgers, preserving the health of the offensive line for the entirety of the season is paramount for the Jets.

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The offensive line is revamped and talented, but it isn’t deep. An injury to a starter wouldn’t be devastating to the Jets, but it would have a negative impact on keeping Rodgers healthy and getting Breece Hall going in the running game.

“I believe that there is a certain detraining that’s happening with the o-line. They are different than every other position. I don’t want to get too deep on it, but there’s a balance. We’re not trying to revisit the ‘Junction Boys’ but we are also this new performance model with load management,” Saleh said.

“I think sometimes especially with the o-line, I feel like there is a detraining that’s happening, that’s leaving them susceptible to injury, but again, it’s
stuff we’ve been setting. We have a plan in place, I just don’t want to get into too many details.”

Offensive line continuity is a focal point, but not a concern for Jets head coach Robert Saleh

The New York Jets offensive line needs time…but there is no rush.

Gelling new names and players along the offensive line will be a priority for the New York Jets throughout training camp and into preseason.

Two big pieces of the Jets line, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker are expected to return to the field soon. Vera-Tucker in fact returned to the field on Friday.

The Jets acquired Moses in a trade this offseason and Vera-Tucker is entering his fourth year after being a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

“I don’t want to give you a definitive day because we’re taking it day at a time, but we’re looking for next week, but it’s going to be soon,” Saleh told reporters on Thursday.

“They’re very close, very close.”

But the issue for the Jets is going to be building comfort and continuity over the next couple of weeks.

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Being able to get in sync with each other and with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, is something that the Jets will need to handle during camp and preseason.

“I’m not worried about it going that long. I guess that’s why I’m kind of calm about it, but they’ll be on the field together sooner rather than later, but they’re doing all the walkthroughs together,” Saleh said.

“So, they’re out in the walkthrough and they’re going through the communication and then just those types of reps, but soon enough they’ll be out in the live reps, hoping for next week.”

Morgan Moses, Alijah Vera-Tucker expected to be ready for training camp

Morgan Moses, Alijah Vera-Tucker expected to be ready for training camp

The Jets haven’t had their full offensive line during the offseason, as right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (Achilles) and right tackle Morgan Moses (pectoral) have been dealing with injuries. However, both are expected to be ready for training camp, according to head coach Robert Saleh, who spoke with reporters Tuesday before the start of mandatory minicamp.

Vera-Tucker is still recovering from the Achilles injury that ended his season in Week 5 last season, the second year in a row he suffered a season-ending injury in Denver during the first half of the season. The Jets picked up Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option for 2025 this offseason.

Moses played through most of the 2023 season with his pectoral injury, electing to wait until after the season to undergo surgery. The Jets acquired Moses via trade with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason.

The Jets need all the injury luck they can get this season after last season’s line succumbed to numerous injuries, including Vera-Tucker’s. New York also signed left tackle Tyron Smith and left guard John Simpson in free agency and drafted Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu in the first round in April.

With Vera-Tucker and Moses out, players like Fashanu, tackles Carter Warren and Max Mitchell and guard Wes Schweitzer have been getting more reps up front as the Jets also look to build depth on the offensive line.

Jets to pick up Alijah Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option

The Jets are exercising Alijah Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option for 2025.

Jets general manager Joe Douglas just wrapped up the 2024 draft and is in the middle of recapping and signing undrafted free agents. In the process, he shared some news on a player from the 2021 draft.

Douglas told the media after the draft the team is picking up the fifth-year option on guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, the 14th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Over the Cap, the option is projected to be worth a guaranteed $15,313,000. He only qualifies for the basic option as his playtime was less than 75% on average over his first three seasons, he did not play 75% of the snaps in two of the three seasons and his snap count was less than 50% over all three seasons. He also did not make any Pro Bowls.

Vera-Tucker has missed majority of the last two seasons due to tricep and Achilles injuries. However, when healthy, he is still one of the top linemen for the Jets and will be back at right guard this season. The Jets plan to keep him there and not bounce him around as they have throughout his career.

The $15,313,000 Vera-Tucker will make on the option currently sits as the third-highest base salary among guards for the 2025 season. Only Panthers guard Robert Hunt ($15,850,000) and Chiefs guard Joe Thuney ($15,500,000) are currently scheduled to make more.

Robert Saleh says plan is for Alijah Vera-Tucker to play right guard

The Jets want to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard this season.

The Jets had previously said this offseason that the plan was to keep Alijah Vera-Tucker in one spot on the offensive line this season instead of bouncing him around, as they have in the past due to injuries.

At the Annual League Meeting this week in Orlando, Florida, head coach Robert Saleh confirmed the plan for Vera-Tucker is to keep him at right guard.

This became expected after the Jets traded for right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens then followed that up by signing former Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. With the team also signing free-agent guard John Simpson to replace the released Laken Tomlinson, right guard became the logical spot for Vera-Tucker.

The Jets want to increase the chances of keeping Vera-Tucker healthy. He has suffered season-ending triceps and Achilles injuries over the past two seasons, causing him to miss a total of 22 games. The Jets also have to decide on Vera-Tucker’s fifth-year option this offseason, an option that, if picked up, would guarantee Vera-Tucker a projected $15.3 million for 2025.

Saleh also mentioned the Jets plan to adjust how they handle the offensive line during the spring and summer as another way to try and prevent injuries.

Given all the bad luck the Jets have had with offensive line injuries over the last two seasons, and given how much pressure there is on the team this season, the Jets need all the healthy linemen they can get, including and especially Vera-Tucker.

Two USC football stars are together on Jets’ offensive line: Tyron Smith and Alijah Vera-Tucker

Tyron Smith and Alijah Vera-Tucker are now on the same offensive line in New York. They can share USC stories.

The New York Jets’ acquisition of Tyron Smith unites the future Pro Football Hall of Famer with another USC Trojan in the Big Apple. Alijah Vera-Tucker and Smith will now be teammates and fellow offensive linemen, tasked with protecting Aaron Rodgers in New York.

Jets Wire wrote about this:

“Smith played 847 snaps in 2023, or 72 percent of the Cowboys’ total snaps on offense, but played only 271 snaps in 2022 and only 60 percent of snaps in 2021. Since 2015, Smith has missed 49 games.

“The addition of Smith now solidifies the Jets’ starting offensive line. With Smith at left tackle, he will have recently signed John Simpson at left guard. Joe Tippmann will be the center, with Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle.”

It will be exciting to see two Trojans together on one of the most interesting teams in the NFL this coming season. If Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy, the Jets might have a chance to do something significant in 2024. We will all be watching this team and its USC linemen.

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Alijah Vera-Tucker’s versatility gives Jets flexibility in how they address OL

Alijah Vera-Tucker’s versatility gives the New York Jets flexibility in how they go about addressing the offensive line this offseason.

Addressing the offensive line is priority No. 1 for the New York Jets this offseason, but the versatility that Alijah Vera-Tucker brings to the table provides GM Joe Douglas with some flexibility in how he goes about tackling that major need.

“I think we’re in a really good situation,” said Joe Douglas at the NFL Combine, “particularly because of the flexibility that AVT (Alijah Vera-Tucker) provides us.”

Throughout Vera-Tucker’s three year career with the Jets, just about wherever they have needed him along the offensive line, Vera-Tucker has stepped in.

As a rookie, Vera-Tucker played 1,027 snaps at left guard. Since then, he has played 70 snaps at left tackle, 333 at right guard, and 279 at right tackle over two injury-shortened seasons.

“We won’t have any decision on exactly where he’s going to line up, but his ability to play four different spots and play four different spots well gives us a lot of flexibility moving forward in our roster building, O-line building.”

Regardless of where Vera-Tucker has lined up, he’s consistently graded out well as a run-blocker by PFF’s metrics. However, from a pass-protection standpoint, he has taken some lumps at each position as well.

Vera-Tucker’s ability to play multiple spots will allow Douglas to find the best available player, whether that be through free agency, the draft, or likely both, knowing that he can move Vera-Tucker wherever he is needed.

Douglas won’t be pigeonholed – or at least not right away – into signing or drafting someone who fills one specific role.

However, while at this stage of the offseason, the Jets are taking a flexible approach on where Vera-Tucker is going to line up, once they find a spot for him, that is where he is going to stay. Although Vera-Tucker’s versatility has come in handy for the Jets, it’s resulted in instability for him as he has been moved up and down the line.

“The one thing we are going to do this year,” added Douglas, “we’re not going to move AVT around. We’re going to have a spot for him and leave him there for the season.”

Vera-Tucker is currently working his way back from an Achilles injury that he suffered in Week 5 of last season. At the Combine, Douglas said that Vera-Tucker was in a “great place” and that rehab is going “outstanding.”

Realistically, the Jets are in the market for three starting-caliber offensive linemen this offseason, with Joe Tippmann the other anticipated Week 1 starter alongside Vera-Tucker.

If the Jets view Vera-Tucker more so as a tackle, then they likely need a left tackle and two guards. If they would prefer to have Vera-Tucker at guard, then the Jets probably need two tackles and a left guard. But, again, where Vera-Tucker goes could depend on how free agency and the draft play out.

Tippmann seemingly solidified himself as the starting center. Although he was at right guard for the first four games of 2023, once at center, Tippmann surrendered just three sacks and 15 pressures while grading out well as a run-blocker the remainder of the year.

However, like Vera-Tucker, perhaps the Jets would consider operating with some wiggle room when it comes to Tippmann’s position, moving him back to right guard if the right center comes along.

For what it’s worth, PFF named the Jets as “potential landing spots” for free agent centers Lloyd Cushenberry, Aaron Brewer, and Evan Brown, with the thought process being that Tippmann would move to guard. PFF also named the Jets a possible landing spot for tackle Josh Jones.

The return of Aaron Rodgers this season will automatically turn things around for this Jets team, but how high their ceiling is, and how good they can be, is going to be significantly impacted by how well Douglas is able to address the offensive line this offseason.

“It’s a lot of pieces,” said Douglas of the holes on the offensive line, “but we just had some unbelievable meetings with our coaching staff, free agent meetings. We feel like there’s three different avenues we can do this: there’s trade, free agency, and draft.

“So going through where we are, the meetings we just went through, the flexibility of AVT, I feel like there’s some guys that can come in and be the right type of fit for us, in terms of the intelligence, the reliability, there’s some good candidates out there that can come in and help us.”