Jets handed massive opportunity they absolutely cannot waste against Bucs

The New York Jets enter their Week 3 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking to avoid an 0-3 hole in Aaron Glenn's first season as head coach.

After showing offensive promise in a heartbreaking 34-32 loss to Pittsburgh, the Jets were brought back to earth in Week 2's 30-10 home defeat to Buffalo. But their first road trip of the season offers a golden opportunity to pick up Glenn's inaugural Jets victory.

The Jets will make the trip to Florida in Week 3 to face a Buccaneers team that has been ravaged by injuries across multiple position groups. Tampa Bay's offensive line has been decimated, losing three of five starters, including Luke Goedeke (IR) and Cody Mauch (season-ending knee injury).

They've also lost Calijah Kancey, who had 7.5 sacks last season, to a torn pectoral that will sideline him for the entire year, while wide receiver Emeka Egbuka remains questionable with his ongoing injury concerns.

The result is an injury-riddled Bucs team that is very much on upset alert entering Week 3 if the Jets are able to bounce back from their putrid performance a week ago.

Jets must take advantage of injury-riddled Bucs team in Week 3

Tampa Bay's offensive line is in complete shambles heading into Week 3, with injuries forcing a near-unprecedented reshuffling that has left Baker Mayfield behind what amounts to a makeshift starting unit.

Left tackle Tristan Wirfs hasn't played a snap this season due to his knee injury, forcing second-year center Graham Barton to slide out to left tackle while Ben Bredeson moves from left guard to center.

The right side is even more catastrophic, with Luke Goedeke now on injured reserve with a foot injury and right guard Cody Mauch done for the season after suffering a knee injury. Veteran third-stringer Charlie Heck is expected to start at right tackle.

The guard situation is also a complete mess. Michael Jordan has been elevated from the practice squad to play left guard, but missed Thursday's practice and might not play on Sunday.

If he can't go, the Bucs will have to choose between Luke Haggard, who they just promoted from the practice squad, or second-year sixth-round pick Elijah Klein. At right guard, they're looking at Klein, Haggard, or newly signed Dan Feeney, who was signed off Buffalo's practice squad on Thursday.

Yes, that Dan Feeney. Former Jets backup Dan Feeney.

Tampa Bay could be starting as few as one player in their natural position from their original projected starting five this week. There isn't even a single league-average starter among the Bucs' projected offensive linemen in Week 3.

But the injuries don't stop there. Kancey — the heart and soul of Tampa Bay's defensive line — is now out for the season. Egubka, who has three touchdowns over the first two weeks of the season, has yet to practice this week due to a hip/groin injury.

Of course, the Jets are dealing with injuries of their own. Justin Fields will miss this week due to a concussion he suffered this past Sunday, forcing veteran Tyrod Taylor into the starting lineup.

Defensive end Jermaine Johnson and wide receiver Josh Reynolds both seem likely to miss Sunday's game as well. The Johnson loss is especially significant, given the team's lack of defensive line depth.

A Michael Clemons-Charlie Heck matchup on Sunday might truly be a case of the resistible force meeting the movable object. Still, the Jets have to capitalize on these Bucs' offensive line injuries.

Opportunities like this don't come around often in the NFL. The Jets have a perfect chance to avoid an 0-3 hole, and they can't afford to waste it.

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