Jets lose another offensive tackle after George Fant is placed on injured reserve
Jets tackle George Fant talks to the media during training camp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on July 29, 2022. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
The Jets suffered another loss on their offensive line.
Left tackle George Fant was placed on injured reserve Tuesday due to an ongoing knee issue. He will miss at least the next four games.
Fant had a knee procedure after last season. He's been held out of practice to rest and recover after games, but Fant couldn't finish last Sunday's game against the Bengals because of the knee.
He became the third Jets tackle to be put on IR already this season. The Jets lost right tackle Mekhi Becton for the year after he fractured his kneecap in practice. Left tackle Duane Brown, who was signed after Becton got hurt, suffered a shoulder injury during practice. Brown is eligible to return in Week 5.
Rookie Max Mitchell has been starting at right tackle. Conor McDermott, who replaced Fant in Sunday’s game, could start at left tackle this week against the Steelers.
“You’re down to your fourth and fifth guys,” Saleh said Monday. “At this point in the season, you don’t anticipate that.”
The Jets have had issues protecting quarterback Joe Flacco. Zach Wilson is expected back this week from his knee injury.
The Jets added some reinforcements on Tuesday. They signed veteran tackle Cedric Ogbuehi to the active roster and veteran offensive lineman Mike Remmers to the practice squad.
Ogbuehi was a first-round pick of the Bengals in 2015. He has started 30 of the 60 games he’s played in his NFL career, but he’s only appeared in 11 over the past two seasons for Seattle and Baltimore.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
