Jets LT Duane Brown questionable to play vs. Patriots: ‘I’m not worried about him…’
Jets left tackle Duane Brown hasn’t practiced all week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
However, Jets coach Robert Saleh is still optimistic that the 38-year-old will play.
“As a veteran, I’m not worried about him not practicing and still show up and play,” Saleh said.
The injury bug hasn’t been kind to Brown during the last 12 months. Brown dealt with a shoulder injury in 2022 that kept him out of the first four games of that year. The veteran still started 12 games at left tackle before he sat out the Jets’ season finale against the Dolphins.
Brown later had offseason surgery to correct his shoulder injury. He was finally cleared to practice last month after beginning training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Now Brown is dealing with a hip injury this week as he has been doing individual work on the side away from the rest of the team. He is listed as questionable to play against New England. If Brown cannot play, that would put the Jets’ offensive line in peril with the Patriots coming to MetLife Stadium Sunday.
“Duane, he’s the ultimate pro,” Jets offensive line coach Keith Carter said. “We have all the confidence in the world that Duane will be ready to go. If, for some reason, that’s not the case, we feel like Billy [Turner] has done a good job and Max [Mitchell] preparing and it’s next man up, that’s how this league goes.
“You gotta get the next guy ready and they’ve done a good job preparing so far this week.”
Gang Green’s offensive line has allowed six sacks during the season’s first two weeks. Brown also struggled in the 30-10 loss to the Cowboys as edge rusher Micah Parsons registered two sacks against the Jets defensive line.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, quarterback Zach Wilson was pressured on 16 of 30 passing plays against the Cowboys. ESPN also ranks Brown 68th out of 68 qualified tackles in pass block win rate.
“I thought we played pretty good against Buffalo,” Saleh said. “Buffalo’s got a really good defensive line, and I thought we ran the ball well, we ran it efficiently, I know we had two explosives, but overall, we were getting positive yards, we were protecting for the most part, and I know from a recency bias standpoint, Dallas got after us, and hats off to them, they did.
“With that said, just staying the course having faith in the group that we have. Yes, continuity is always key, and you want to keep guys together, but that’s not the way this league works. That’s why during OTAs and training camp, you’re always moving guys up and down the line and working different combinations.”
If Brown cannot play against New England, Mekhi Becton won’t be an option to start at left tackle. Becton is currently the Jets starting right tackle, but he began training camp this summer as the backup left tackle.
After both Billy Turner and Max Mitchell proved ineffective at right tackle, Becton won the right tackle job.
“He has been practicing a certain way this entire week,” Saleh said. “To move him at the last second would be irresponsible on our part.”
ADAMS AND SCHWEITZER OUT
The Jets will be without one of their starting safeties against the Patriots as Tony Adams (hamstring) will not play. He suffered the injury against the Cowboys last week as he left the game in the second quarter.
Adams’ injury leaves the Jets with just three safeties currently on their roster, Jordan Whitehead, Adrian Amos and Ashtyn Davis.
Offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer also will not play against New England after suffering a concussion during Thursday’s practice. With Brown’s status in question, the loss of Schweitzer limits the Jets offensive line depth.
Concussions have also been a problem for Schweitzer throughout his career, as he missed eight weeks last year after suffering the injury.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein, who missed last week’s game against Dallas, is questionable to play versus New England. During practice last week, Zuerlein sustained a groin injury as Austin Seibert was the Jets placekicker against the Cowboys. Seibert made a 34-yard field goal and converted his only extra-point attempt during the game.
Zuerlein missed practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday before he did some kicking on Friday as he was a full participant.
Defensive end John Franklin-Myers, cornerback Michael Carter II, linebacker Quincy Williams, Becton, and running back Breece Hall were all full participants during Friday’s practice and are expected to play.
