Tag: Mekhi Becton injury

Mekhi Becton exits Eagles practice with a leg injury

Mekhi Becton Exits Philadelphia Eagles 14th training camp practice with a leg injury

Mekhi Becton has spent the summer redefining his career. Just days from potentially being named the starting right guard in Philadelphia, the massive offensive lineman exited the Eagles’ Sunday practice with a lower leg injury.

Tyler Steen exited the preseason win over the Patriots with an injury. Philadelphia’s right side of the offensive line was missing from practice, with Lane Johnson getting a rest day.

With Becton, Steen, and Lane Johnson out, Fred Johnson assumed the right tackle duties, while the versatile Brett Toth was inserted at right guard. Philadelphia will have one final week of training camp practices before a Saturday preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field against the Minnesota Vikings.

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Mekhi Becton has low ankle sprain, out 1-2 weeks

Positive news for Mekhi Becton as he’ll only miss 1-2 weeks instead of multiple weeks.

The Jets received positive news on offensive tackle Mekhi Becton Monday as he was diagnosed with a low ankle sprain and not a high one,per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Instead of being out multiple weeks, Becton is only expected to miss 1-2 weeks and it is not of the question that Becton plays Friday against the Miami Dolphins, though it’s more likely he’ll return in Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Becton left Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after his ankle was rolled up on. He eventually went to the locker room and rookie Carter Warren filled in for him at left tackle.

The Jets are also expected to get Duane Brown this week after his stint on injured reserve with a hip injury. Brown landed on injured reserve September 23 and had his practice window opened November 2. With a 21-day window, the Jets have until Thursday to activate Brown. He has been a full participant in practice since return to practice almost three weeks but the Jets were taking their time bringing him back.

With Becton’s timeline, it’s now possible the Jets get back both of their Week 1 starting tackles in Week 13 and likely no later than Week 14 when the Jets host the Houston Texans.

The Jets are likely to start their eighth different offensive line combination Friday and when they get Brown and Becton back together, that lineup could be No. 9.

Jets OT Mekhi Becton making progress with new nutritionist

Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton is getting back into shape with the help of a new nutritionist.

Mekhi Becton arrived in New York almost three years ago with sky-high expectations. The mammoth offensive tackle oozed potential and was viewed as the Jets’ left tackle of the future — and it looked like he was on his way to that point during his rookie season.

Becton’s path to stardom has been derailed by injuries, though. The No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL draft played just one game last season after suffering a season-ending dislocated kneecap in Gang Green’s opener. Injuries were also an issue for Becton during his standout rookie year, and his lack of consistent availability prompted Robert Saleh to announce that he would have to win back his starting left tackle job in January.

Joe Douglas said last month that the Jets are operating as if Becton is one of their two starting tackles, but his place in the pecking order is no longer as solidified as it was when he was a high-profile rookie. Becton is going to have to stay healthy if he wants to stay in the starting lineup.

Controlling his weight will go a long way in ensuring that happens.

Becton, who weighed 363 pounds at the 2020 combine, got up to at least 400 pounds while rehabbing his knee injury, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. However, Becton is working his way back into shape with the help of a new nutritionist, and the Jets might be able to reap the benefits next season.

Ann Claiborne, Becton’s nutritionist, told Cimini that Becton’s weight is back down to the 300s. The two started working together during training camp in August and Claiborne helped Becton get down to 360 pounds before undergoing surgery on his knee.

Becton has hired a personal chef under Claiborne’s guidance. His diet is now anti-inflammatory, alkaline and free of processed foods. Becton eats lots of fruits and vegetables — three times the amount he was consuming beforehand, according to Claiborne.

Becton has drawn criticism for his weight before. The Jets are hoping his efforts result in a significant and sustained difference this time around. Zach Wilson could use his larger-than-life blindside protector on the field, after all.

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No excuse for another bad Jets’ offensive line performance despite Mekhi Becton’s injury

The Jets are in a position to do a better job of protecting Zach Wilson in Week 2 — even with Mekhi Becton out.

Zach Wilson spent the large majority of his NFL debut last weekend against the Panthers running for his life at the snap of the ball.

A fully healthy Jets offensive line had no answer for Brian Burns and the Panthers’ pass rush. Carolina pressured Wilson the majority of his dropbacks, constantly flushing New York’s rookie signal-caller. The result? Mike LaFleur’s offense going nowhere until the protection improved just a little bit late in the third quarter.

As good as Burns is, the Panthers do not boast a particularly dangerous pass rush. An exponentially better Patriots defensive front is rolling into MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, posing the Jets with a stiff test with their best offensive lineman watching from the sideline.

Mekhi Becton dislocated his kneecap in Week 1 and will undergo surgery on Wednesday, placing him out for the next 4-8 weeks. Losing a player of Becton’s caliber is never ideal under any circumstance, but all hope is not lost for New York’s offensive line with its left tackle out of action.

Morgan Moses entered at right tackle and George Fant switched sides over to left tackle as soon as Becton went down. Becton was not necessarily playing poorly before his injury, but the Jets did a better job of protecting Wilson with the Fant-Moses tackle duo on the field.

Some of that might have to do with Carolina’s defensive line getting tired — the unit was bringing the heat after Wilson for 45 minutes straight, after all. Wilson rolling out and finding Corey Davis in the end zone to make it a one-score game after Wilson converted the two-point attempt himself might have been the kick in the butt New York’s offensive line needed to snap out of its funk.

Either way, something changed in the trenches and it resulted in Wilson having more time to throw.

The Jets are not in a terrible spot at tackle with Becton out because of Fant and Moses. The two are by no means elite pass blockers, but they are solid depth options who are more than capable of producing in the event of an injury like the one Becton suffered.

Joe Douglas went out and signed Moses in July with a scenario like this in mind. In the event that New York lost a starter on its offensive line, Douglas wanted a proven commodity ready to go instead of having to rely on an inexperienced backup. In that sense, the Jets are prepared for life without Becton.

There is really no excuse for New York’s offensive line to fail Wilson for a second straight weekend. The unit is an experienced one other than Alijah Vera-Tucker and has two outside blockers who have shut down edge rushers in the past. Bill Belichick is going to challenge Gang Green’s protection early and often in Week 2, but it should be up for the task of keeping Wilson clean.

If not, a serious discussion about the direction of the Jets’ offensive line needs to be had. Douglas can’t afford to let his rookie quarterback succumb to the same lack of protection Sam Darnold did.

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Mekhi Becton to undergo knee surgery, miss 4-8 weeks

Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton will miss 4-8 weeks, as he needs surgery after dislocating his knee cap.

Mekhi Becton is scheduled to have surgery next week after dislocating his kneecap next week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Per Schefter, Becton is expected to miss 4-8 weeks after he goes under the knife. The surgery will clean up damaged cartilage in Becton’s knee.

Becton injured his knee late in the third quarter of New York’s season opener against the Panthers. The injury occurred on the same play Zach Wilson fired his first NFL touchdown pass to Corey Davis.

New York’s offensive line was already struggling to protect Wilson with its star offensive tackle on the field. Now, George Fant will slide over to left tackle in place of Becton, with veteran Morgan Moses entering the starting lineup at right tackle.

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Jets’ decision to sign Morgan Moses looks even wiser with Mekhi Becton hurt

Joe Douglas’ signing of Morgan Moses in July is more important than ever with Mekhi Becton sidelined with a knee injury.

Joe Douglas spent the offseason scouring the free agent market looking for ways to improve the Jets’ offensive line. He missed out on Joe Thuney in free agency, but he received a nice consolation prize just before the beginning of training camp in July.

Morgan Moses was waived by Washington in May after it failed to find a trade partner for the veteran offensive tackle. Moses was a mainstay on Washington’s offensive line from 2014-2021, but parting ways with the veteran to freed over $7 million in salary cap space.

Moses languished on the free agent market for a while before Douglas and Jets came calling with a one-year, $3.6 million deal. Starting caliber offensive linemen are seldom available for the taking as late in the offseason as Moses was, making him a gift from the football gods for a team in desperate need of quality depth.

That gift became all the more valuable when Mekhi Becton sustained a dislocated kneecap in New York’s season opener against the Panthers. Instead of turning to an inexperienced backup, the Jets plugged in a veteran who has been there and done that throughout his career.

It’s nearly impossible to replace a player like Becton. Offensive tackles of his size and athleticism don’t exactly grow on trees and the Jets were counting on him to keep Zach Wilson clean early in his rookie year. That won’t happen for at least the next month, but softening the blow of losing Becton is Morgan, the elder statesman of New York’s offensive line room.

Wilson’s protection in Week 1 was underwhelming, to say the least. It likely would have gotten even worse without Becton if Moses was not in the building. If the Jets never picked Moses up, they would have been left with Grant Hermanns, Elijah Nkansah, Ross Pierschbacher and Isaiah Williams — all former undrafted free agents — to plug into the starting lineup.

None of those options inspire any sort of confidence.

Robert Saleh won’t have to worry about much with Moses in the starting lineup. Yes, New York has a lot to clean up in the trenches after a disastrous performance to begin the season, but Moses profiles as part of the solution moving forward.

Washington’s trash is now arguably the Jets’ most valuable treasure. Moses might not be the high-caliber offensive tackle he was back in his prime, but having him as one of Wilson’s blockers sure beats trotting out a player who isn’t a starter at the highest level.

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Jets vs. Patriots: Mekhi Becton questionable to return with chest injury

Mekhi Becton is questionable to return against the Patriots after suffering a chest injury late in the first quarter.

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Mekhi Becton is questionable to return against the Patriots after suffering a chest injury late in the first quarter.

Trainers took Becton to the blue medical tent before escorting him to the locker room to undergo further evaluation. Chuma Edoga is in the game in place of Becton at left tackle and has already been flagged for holding.

The Jets currently trail New England 7-3 early in the second quarter. Check back with Jets Wire for updates on Becton’s status throughout the night.