Jets guard Vera-Tucker arm injury

An arm injury could sideline Alijah Vera-Tucker for a significant stretch, testing the Jets’ run-focused plan.

Jets guard Vera-Tucker faces extended absence after arm injury

The Jets may lose right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker to a significant absence because of an arm injury, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic and later confirmed by Adam Schefter of ESPN. Vera-Tucker started 2025 as a captain and is one of three former first-round picks who would anchor the line. If surgery is needed, his time on the field could stretch longer, complicating a season that aims to lean on the run game. Vera-Tucker has already missed 22 games across 2022 and 2023, making any setback more painful for a group counting on steady blocks up front.

The injury also matters for his contract future. The Jets exercised a fifth-year option on his rookie deal, and Vera-Tucker is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. A long absence would not only hurt the offense this year but also raise questions about his value in a second contract. The Jets will need to adjust their plans, lean on depth at guard, and consider how to protect the quarterback and keep the run game effective without him.

Injuries test a team’s identity, and Vera-Tucker’s leadership role amplifies the stakes of this setback. A run-first offense relies on a patchwork of players who can stay healthy and execute. The Jets will have to decide quickly how to rotate veterans or promote younger linemen to sustain the ground attack without their captain.

This episode also highlights how a single injury can ripple through roster decisions. With 2025 free agency on the horizon, the Jets must balance immediate game plans with longer-term cap and development goals. Depth at guard becomes a critical issue, and the team may need to rethink protection schemes or add reliability on the interior line to weather the season’s inevitable bad days.

Highlights

The season will reveal how the Jets balance risk and reward on an injury prone line.