Jets' George Fant takes move to right tackle as 'something I've got to do'
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. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — George Fant prefers playing left tackle. He started at left tackle for most of last season. He came into training camp as the left tackle. And now he isn’t the left tackle.
The Jets shifted Fant to right tackle beginning with Sunday’s practice after five-time Pro Bowler Duane Brown agreed to a deal.
Fant spoke about the situation with the media after Thursday’s practice, calling it “another hurdle in the road. Just something I’ve got to do.”
Last season, Fant started out on the right side, then moved to the left side when Mekhi Becton went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. Fant excelled, and the Jets then moved Becton to right tackle for the start of camp. But the 2020 first-round pick suffered another season-ending knee injury in practice on Aug. 8.
Brown has played almost exclusively at left tackle in his 14 seasons. Fant also saw time on the right side for the Jets in 2020.
“Those things, I can’t control,” Fant added about the shift. “I just know I can play left, right; it doesn’t really matter. You’ve just got to be a pro in certain situations. Obviously, yeah, you could be upset and be everything else. But at the end of the day, you’ve still got to play football games.”
Jets, Falcons practices
The Jets begin two days of joint practices here Friday against Atlanta, their opponent in the second preseason game Monday night at MetLife Stadium.
These joint sessions can produce skirmishes.
“It’s usually the second day,” coach Robert Saleh said. “But it doesn’t change. We treat them like we treat ourselves in terms of protect the team, all the same rules of keeping guys off the ground, no slinging, no pulling, no holding. Just play clean.”
