New York Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker Trending After Position-Switch Rumor—What It Means for the 2025 Season

The New York Jets were dealt a potentially devastating blow just five days before their Week 1 trip to Pittsburgh when starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained what multiple reports describe as a “significant” arm injury during Tuesday’s practice in Florham Park. Early indications are that the third-year lineman may need surgery, a procedure that could sideline him for a large chunk—or even the entirety—of the 2025 season. Why the injury matters • Vera-Tucker is the Jets’ most versatile blocker; he started at both guard spots and left tackle in 2024 while grading as the club’s top run-blocker, according to team metrics. • New York already lost left tackle Tyron Smith (ankle, short-term IR) last week, leaving a reshuffled line protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blind side. • The 2025 matchup against T.J. Watt’s Steelers front is five days away, giving line coach Keith Carter minimal time to reconfigure protections. How it happened Sources told ESPN that the 26-year-old hurt his lower arm while bracing during a goal-line drill; trainers immediately carted him for imaging. A second opinion is expected Wednesday, but early scans revealed damage serious enough for the club to fear a fracture that requires surgical fixation. Possible replacements 1. Max Mitchell: The 2022 fourth-round pick has taken the majority of first-team guard reps this summer. 2. Rookie Cooper Beebe: Drafted in Round 3 to develop at center/guard, Beebe could be fast-tracked into the lineup. 3. Free-agent market: Ex-Patriot Michael Onwenu and veteran Dalton Risner remain unsigned and would fit New York’s power-gap scheme. Locker-room reaction Quarterback Aaron Rodgers called the injury “a gut punch,” emphasizing Vera-Tucker’s leadership in meetings. Head coach Robert Saleh told reporters the team will “explore every option” but added that Vera-Tucker’s “unmatched work ethic gives us hope for a quicker-than-projected return”. Historical context This is the third straight year Vera-Tucker has faced a major setback. A torn triceps ended his 2023 campaign after seven games, and an Achilles tear in Week 5 of 2024 cost him the final 12 contests. Despite the injuries, he earned Pro Bowl alternate recognition last season for a dominant September stretch. What’s next • Timeline: If surgery is required, standard recovery for a fractured forearm is 8–12 weeks; tendon damage would extend that to 4–6 months. • Roster move: Expect the Jets to place Vera-Tucker on injured reserve by Saturday to free a roster spot for a depth lineman. • Schedule impact: Four of New York’s first six opponents finished 2024 in the top-10 for sacks, magnifying the urgency to stabilize the line. Bottom line Losing Alijah Vera-Tucker days before kickoff magnifies every lingering concern about New York’s offensive line. Unless a swift second opinion delivers unexpectedly good news, the Jets may have to navigate the season’s most brutal early-stretch pass-rush gauntlet without their best interior protector—placing even more pressure on Aaron Rodgers’ return tour and the franchise’s playoff ambitions.