Jets’ offensive line still a work in progress

PHILADELPHIA — The Jets’ starting offensive line for Week 1 will look much different than the front five that protected Zach Wilson in Friday night’s preseason opener.

Chuma Edoga, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker and rookie Max Mitchell played two series together against the Eagles.  

The interior won’t change with Vera-Tucker at right guard, McGovern the center and Tomlinson the left guard. Mitchell was a fill-in at right tackle and Edoga at left tackle. George Fant was a healthy scratch. The tackle positions are under construction, but the Jets are working on stabilizing the spot.

The plan coming into the season was for Fant  to be the Jets’ starting left tackle. That plan had to be scratched when Mekhi Becton suffered a fracture in his right kneecap in practice Monday. The loss of Becton led to the Jets’ signing left tackle Duane Brown.

The Jets needed insurance at tackle anyway and showed interest in Brown before Becton’s injury. When Becton got hurt, Brown became a necessity.

The five-time Pro Bowler has played almost every snap of his 14-year career at left tackle. No official declaration has been made regarding who will be the Jets’ starting left tackle on Sept. 11 against Baltimore. The Jets will address it when Brown signs and is in their building.

The most logical move would be to slide Fant back to right tackle. He definitely wants to play on the left side and said that’s where he’s most comfortable. However, Fant has far more experience on the right side than Brown, his former teammate with the Seahawks.

Fant played right tackle much of his first season with the Jets in 2020 with Becton starting at left tackle. This is a situation where the Jets have to do what’s best for the team.

They value Fant and are trying to work out a contract extension. But it will be easier for him to transition back to right tackle — where he started in Week 1 last year — than Brown to essentially learn a new position.