According to Connor Hughes of SNY, there’s “legitimate fear” that New York Jets offensive lineman Mekhi Becton could be done for the 2022 NFL season before it even starts.
There is legitimate fear Mekhi Becton's 2022 season could be over, I'm told. #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 9, 2022
Becton was injured in training camp on Monday and “instantly grabbed his surgically-repaired knee,” according to Hughes.
Mekhi Becton started limping in individual drills. OL vs OL. He came up lame after engaging. Then went down in team drills after engaging with JFM.
Becton’s right toe got caught in the turf as his body bent backwards. He instantly grabbed his surgically-repaired knee #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 8, 2022
After practice, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said that the Becton injury “didn’t seem like a big deal.”
Robert Saleh on #Jets Mekhi Becton: “It’s stable … it doesn’t seem like a big deal.”
Becton is getting an MRI.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 8, 2022
But it seems that the injury very much *is* a big deal.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported that the injury is more serious than the Jets initially believed, adding that it was unrelated to Becton’s previous knee injury. Hughes then followed up with a series of tweets, saying that the Jets are “preparing for the worst.”
#Jets OT Mekhi Becton’s knee injury is more concerning than the team originally believed following practice today, sources tell me and @RapSheet. It’s a new injury and unrelated to his previous knee injury. Becton has additional medical appointments tomorrow to get more clarity.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 8, 2022
The #Jets are very much preparing for the worst when it comes to Mekhi Becton news, I'm told. More tests tonight & tomorrow.
A brutal blow for the former first-round pick. He missed all of 2021 with a knee injury, now a chunk of his 2022 is in jeopardy. https://t.co/Q76z24xtH1
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) August 9, 2022
Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reports that Becton has “a small chip-sized fracture in his previously surgically repaired knee.” Hughes adds that the injury is to Becton’s “knee cap and patella,” and the “fear is that there might be more damage than that.”
Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has a knee cap injury, a small chip-sized fracture in his previously surgically repaired right knee, according to a league source. Second opinion testing pending to confirm initial diagnosis. @PFN365
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 9, 2022
This is all brutal news for Becton and the Jets.
Becton, 23, was the 11th overall pick by the Jets in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Louisville. He suffered what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season. For the 2022 season, Becton was expected to be New York’s starting right tackle.
Saleh says that Becton will be the right tackle. Fant will be the left. Not a competition. #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) July 27, 2022
So, the Jets’ offensive line has already taken a major hit before the preseason even begins, and that’s particularly concerning when trying to do everything to protect second-year quarterback Zach Wilson.
Here’s a peek at how the NFL world is reacting to the Becton news:
Let’s ignore football for a moment.
Mekhi Becton worked his way back from a serious knee injury and got himself in great shape, all while under immense pressure.
All of that just to suffer a NEW injury to the same knee.
Heart breaks for that man. Wishing him all the best. ❤️
— The Jet Press (@TheJetPress) August 9, 2022
Losing Becton stinks but it doesn’t derail the entire season if Joe Douglas pivots and signs Duane Brown. Money shouldn’t be an issue on a 1 year deal when the #Jets have ample cap space.
Get it done.
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) August 9, 2022
I feel awful for Becton. Comes into camp in shape & ready to go. Now this… https://t.co/NIvqxwUoXb
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) August 9, 2022
absolutely brutal, feel horrible for Becton https://t.co/OnbnQ9mCN7 pic.twitter.com/0NLG6rlHkf
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 9, 2022
I feel so bad for Mekhi Becton man 🥺
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) August 9, 2022
UPDATE: NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Becton “has suffered an avulsion fracture of the right knee cap.” Becton is likely out for the season.
#Jets OT Mekhi Becton has suffered an avulsion fracture of the right knee cap, per me and @MikeGarafolo. He’s seeing a surgeon tomorrow, but likely is out for the year. Brutal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
