Latest Alijah Vera-Tucker injury report confirms Jets' worst fears

The New York Jets received crushing news on Wednesday regarding one of their most important players. Just days before their Week 1 showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers, reports surfaced that veteran offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a serious injury during Tuesday's practice.

ESPN's Adam Schefter provided an unfortunate update on Vera-Tucker's status, revealing that the USC product has once again suffered a torn tricep, and the fear is that the injury is season-ending.

The injury reportedly occurred during individual drills at the Jets' practice on Tuesday. Vera-Tucker is scheduled to receive a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis and determine whether surgery will be required, but the expectation inside the building is grim.

Vera-Tucker was just named a Jets team captain for the first time in his career a few days ago and was expected to be a cornerstone of the team's offensive line, both in 2025 and beyond. Now, his short and long-term future in New York is in serious doubt.

Alijah Vera-Tucker injury update is worst-case scenario for the Jets

What makes this injury update even more unfortunate is that this isn't the first time Vera-Tucker has suffered this injury. The former first-round pick tore his triceps in October of 2022 and missed the remaining 10 games of the season.

Almost a year to the day later, Vera-Tucker suffered a torn Achilles in another October game against the Denver Broncos. He returned healthy in 2024, playing 15 of a possible 17 games, and entered the 2025 season hoping to land an extension in the near future.

Vera-Tucker's rookie deal expires at the end of the season, and given his extensive injury history, he desperately needed to stay healthy in 2025 to prove he deserved a second contract. This is a devastating blow to his chances of receiving that contract from the Jets.

The organization also has to consider the future of left guard John Simpson, who is similarly entering a contract year this season. The Jets are expected to slide Joe Tippmann to right guard, possibly paving the way for a full-time position change. Josh Myers will start at center.

For a franchise desperate to turn the page in 2025, losing one of its few reliable cornerstones is a gut punch. The Jets can shuffle the line, adjust the scheme, and turn to replacements, but there’s no true substitute for someone like Alijah Vera-Tucker. This sucks.

More NY Jets news and analysis: