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The New York Jets revamped offensive line is already in need of mending after team captain and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a potentially serious arm injury, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
Vera-Tucker is now getting a second opinion, sources told Russini, who added that the 26-year-old former first-round pick could be facing surgery. He previously tore his triceps in 2022 and suffered a torn Achilles tendon last season as the Jets finished 5-12 with the league's 24th-ranked offense.
The injury is a major setback for new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who has been working to improve a unit that has faced significant criticism as the Jets have failed to reach the playoffs over the last 14 seasons.
Vera-Tucker was expected to start on the right side along first-round pick Armand Membou, a wildly athletic 332-pound tackle out of Missouri. The Jets do have second-string guard Xavier Newman, but they could also opt to move backup tackles Chukwuma Okorafor or Max Mitchell inside to replace Vera-Tucker, or slide Joe Tippmann over from center.
But whatever the Jets decided to do, many fans are already bracing themselves for another down season for what's starting to feel like a cursed team.
'It's crazy how cursed the Jets franchise is,' one fan lamented on X. 'You can't tell me otherwise at this point. The curse is strong.'
The New York Jets revamped offensive line is already in need of mending after team captain and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker reportedly suffered a potentially serious arm injury
Many others agreed.
'I'm telling you we are cursed,' another added, 'the Jets have a curse on them.'
One fan declared 'it's a curse for sure,' adding: '[Offensive line] was what I hung our hopes on. Brutal being part of this fanbase.'
The Jets have battled a few injuries in training camp, such as new starting quarterback Justin Fields' dislocated toe.
But for the most part, the injury issues alluded to by fans mostly took place over the last few seasons.
Most notably, four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers arrived in 2023 only to rupture his Achilles on the first offensive series of the season.
The Jets open their season on Sunday at home against Rodgers and the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.
