New York Jets LT Mekhi Becton to miss 4-6 weeks with dislocated kneecap
New York Jets left tackle Mekhi Becton will miss a minimum of four to six weeks after dislocating his right kneecap in Sunday's season-opening loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Jets coach Robert Saleh confirmed the extent of Becton's injury Monday and said that Becton's knee was otherwise structurally sound. Saleh said that Becton is in the process of getting a second opinion and that a surgical procedure has not been ruled out.
Considering how serious the injury looked when Becton went down in the third quarter of the 19-14 loss to the Panthers, it's good news for the Jets that he'll be back on the field again this season.
But the rest of the injury report was pretty grim. Starting free safety Lamarcus Joyner is out for the season after suffering a torn triceps. Punter Braden Mann will miss four to six weeks after suffering an injury to his non-kicking leg. And linebackers Jamien Sherwood (ankle) and Blake Cashman (hamstring) are both expected to miss a couple of weeks.
Saleh said that the Jets are going to have to add some help from outside. They'll certainly be bringing in help at linebacker – they had only five on the active roster before Sunday's game, now they're down to three healthy linebackers.
Del'Shawn Phillips could be added to the active roster from the practice squad. He was elevated Sunday, playing 57 snaps and leading the Jets with nine tackles. The Jets also have Quincy Williams, whom they claimed off waivers earlier this month. But they'll likely add another linebacker.
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The Jets are also thin at safety. Ashtyn Davis went on injured reserve to start the season, so he can't return before Week 4. Backup Sharrod Neasman didn't practice or play Week 1 because of a hamstring injury, and his outlook is unclear.
That leaves Marcus Maye and Sheldrick Redwine as the only healthy safeties on the roster. Redwine was benched in the second quarter Sunday after allowing a touchdown to Panthers receiver Robby Anderson, a former Jet.
And with Mann out for the next month-plus, the Jets have an interesting decision to make. They could continue to let rookie kicker Matt Ammendola handle punting duties. He made his NFL debut against Carolina and performed admirably as Mann's replacement, averaging nearly 50 yards on six punts. But Saleh said the Jets planned to work out punters in the coming days.
There is some good news for the Jets potentially coming this week. Saleh said that wide receiver Jamison Crowder, who is on the COVID list and missed Sunday's game, could test off the list as early as Tuesday. And Keelan Cole, a projected starting receiver, also has a chance to play Sunday against the New England Patriots. Cole suffered a knee injury in Thursday's practice and didn't play against the Panthers. Saleh said Cole is day-to-day.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: New York Jets LT Mekhi Becton out 4-6 weeks with dislocated kneecap
