NY Jets could reunite with former starter after key OL injury

The NY Jets are mostly healthy as they enter their Week 1 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football, but the team will be down one key member of their offensive line.

The Jets officially placed veteran offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer on the injured reserve with a hand injury on Saturday, ruling him out for at least the next four days. Schweitzer was the Jets' top backup interior lineman, leaving the team shorthanded in that area.

Xavier Newman immediately becomes the only backup interior lineman on the 53-man roster, although it's expected the team will replace Schweitzer at some point. Obvious practice squad candidates to be promoted include Jake Hanson and Kohl Levao, but there could be another option.

Former Jets center Connor McGovern remains unsigned after hitting free agency this past offseason. His current injury status is unclear, but if McGovern is healthy, the Jets would be wise to explore a reunion.

The NY Jets should re-sign Connor McGovern after the Wes Schweitzer injury

McGovern originally signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Jets prior to the 2020 season. The former Denver Broncos fifth-round pick would spend the better part of the next four years as the Jets' primary starting center.

McGovern returned on a one-year deal in 2023 with the expectation that he would compete with rookie Joe Tippmann for the starting job. He began the year as the starter, appearing in seven games before suffering a serious knee injury.

That injury sidelined McGovern for the remainder of the season and updates on his status have been few and far between since. But if McGovern is recovered and ready to play football again, he would be a welcome addition to the Jets' offensive line.

The seven-year veteran has experience playing both guard and center, making him a quality experienced replacement for Schweitzer. While he's certainly not someone the Jets should want to rely on as a starter, a healthy McGovern is still a backup-caliber center.

McGovern earned very respectable Pro Football Focus grades of 75.9 and 69.6 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, before a lackluster showing in 2023.

It's fair to note that the entirety of the Jets' offensive line struggled last season, however. Whatever the opposite of iron sharpens iron is, that's what happened to the Jets' offensive line a year ago. They all collectively made each other worse.

McGovern has years of experience working in a similar offensive system, has familiarity with many players on the current roster, and has the versatility to provide depth at both center and guard.

If Connor McGovern is healthy and recovered from his knee injury, the Jets would be wise to give him a call.

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