New York Jets RT Mehki Becton played one game in 2021 due to a right knee injury he suffered in Week 1 against the Panthers. Unfortunately, he may have suffered another significant right leg injury on Monday at Jets training camp.
Initially, there was some optimism about Becton’s condition, who limped off the practice field and did not return.
“The only thing I got is that it’s stable,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said about the knee. “Everything seems fine. Preliminary. Obviously, we just have to get it checked for precautionary reasons. But as of now, it doesn’t seem like it’s a big deal, but knock-on wood. Hopefully, that stays the case.”
However, that optimism has faded.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Becton’s knee injury is more concerning than the team originally believed following practice today; it’s a new injury unrelated to his previous knee injury.
The 23-year-old, the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, had a brace on his right knee Friday and did not get many snaps at Saturday night’s practice, which Saleh discussed Monday.
“The limited snaps on Saturday, that was the first time we had been on the fake stuff and we just wanted to make sure we gave him just enough dosage to see how he came off and how he felt off of that day, which everything checked out great from the Green & White, but that’s what that pitch count was for,” Saleh said.
Before the injury, Becton reportedly looked labored at practice, which may have come from the sweltering heat. Last season, Becton’s knee injury was not supposed to keep him out the whole season. However, conditioning played a role in the third-year tackle not returning to the lineup.
If Becton’s injury is severe, the Jets might have interest in 36-year-old free agent OT Duane Brown who played for the Seahawks last season and was around the team over the weekend,
When asked about Brown, Jets coach Robert Saleh said, “That’s a Joe (Douglas) question.”
In addition to Becton’s injury, OT Conor McDermott injured his ankle at the team’s Green and White practice Saturday night. According to Saleh, McDermott is expected to miss 1-2 weeks.
