Mekhi Becton will once again miss time with an injury. Fortunately for he and the Jets, the left tackle could still make a return to the field this season.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said on Monday he expects his left tackle to miss at least four to six weeks, but the team is seeking a second opinion on Becton’s injury.
Becton was diagnosed with a knee cap dislocation and an MCL sprain and will need arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage, according to a report by NFL Network.
What the second doctor finds, however, could ultimately determine whether or not Becton will need surgery or even more time off the field in rehab, per Saleh.
“Like I said, minimum four to six, after that, that’s more a question for the docs,” Saleh said.
That means the Jets will be without their main blind side tackle for their upcoming meeting with the Patriots on Sunday, who Gang Green has not beaten since Dec. 27, 2015 — when Todd Bowles was still the head coach in Florham Park. Depending on Becton’s return timeline, whenever the Jets can finalize a plan forward for him, he could miss their second meeting with the Patriots Week 7 in Foxborough, Mass.
The Patriots also started the season 0-1 after losing to the Miami Dolphins 17-16, rolling out their rookie QB Mac Jones for his first regular season action.
For now George Fant — who’s had reps on the left most recently on Sunday as Becton’s replacement — will move over to left tackle and Morgan Moses will take over primary duties at right tackle.
“There’s a shuffling that has to happen but you know, with respect to Mekhi, he did only practice twice leading up to the game in the last two or three weeks,” Saleh said.
Becton was injured late in the third quarter of Gang Green’s 19-14 loss to the Panthers on Sunday when defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon collided with the back of his legs. Becton went down and needed assistance getting back up and off the field. He was eventually carted off in tears.
This just the latest injury of Becton’s injury-littered year. He missed OTAs with plantar fasciitis and then was in the concussion protocol after a preseason game against the Packers.
The Jets take on the Patriots Sunday at MetLife Stadium at 1 p.m.
