Jets may be making a costly mistake after latest OL injury

Training camp is barely underway in Florham Park, and the New York Jets are already flirting with changing one of the few things that actually worked last season: Joe Tippmann at center.

Since being drafted in 2023, the Wisconsin product has been one of the most reliable young linemen in football. His 73.4 Pro Football Focus grade from 2024 ranked eighth among all qualified centers, while his 77.3 run-blocking grade was good for seventh among all qualifiers.

Amid constant injuries and instability up front, Tippmann was one of the few bright spots the Jets could count on. Some would even argue he was the team’s best lineman last season. But even on an offensive line that’s among the league’s best on paper, the injury bug is still taking its toll.

With left guard John Simpson sidelined for a week or two with a back injury, the Jets have shifted Tippmann over to left guard. Veteran Josh Myers, who is competing with Tippmann for the starting job, has taken his place at center in the first-team offense.

Tippmann started three games at guard during his rookie season, but has been a full-time center since his sophomore year in Madison. This is all because New York signed Myers to a one-year deal this spring, and head coach Aaron Glenn seems intent on getting him reps.

Josh Myers is the reason the Jets are stumbling into a potential OL mistake

It still doesn’t make sense as to why the Jets view the Tippmann/Myers situation as a legitimate competition. Even Tippmann himself doesn't understand it. Myers, a 2021 second-round pick, has started 56 career games, but graded out as one of the league’s worst centers last season.

The Ohio State product’s 54.6 PFF grade ranked 38th out of 40 qualified centers in 2024, while his 50.9 run-blocking grade was 36th of 37. This really feels like an unnecessary shakeup.

The most important thing a franchise can do in training camp is build chemistry, especially on the offensive line. This becomes even more important when your quarterback is 26, mobile, and fighting to extend his NFL career behind the team’s best trench unit in a decade.

The Jets should know better than to overthink a situation that doesn’t need fixing. If Tippmann is the anchor of the offensive line, let him be the anchor. Myers (who has some experience playing guard) can be the one to switch positions for a few weeks.

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