This NY Jets player must have a vintage performance in Week 7

It was another busy week for the NY Jets after the team fell to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night at home. After firing head coach Robert Saleh last Tuesday, New York struck a trade for All-Pro wideout Davante Adams this past Tuesday.

While Adams makes the Jets better from a talent perspective, there are still many issues plaguing this team to a 2-4 record that need to be fixed. One of these issues has come up front on the offensive line, which has struggled immensely during New York's three-game skid.

Through six games this season, New York has let up 16 sacks, which is tied for seventh most in the NFL. However, 11 of these 16 sacks have come in the last three games, where quarterback Aaron Rodgers has taken a significant beating. Gang Green has also had its fair share of penalties on the offensive line that have taken away big plays and even a touchdown on Monday night.

Sunday night in Pittsburgh won't get any easier for the Jets up front, especially Tyron Smith, who has struggled so far this season, and will now be tasked with facing T.J. Watt and other key Steelers pass rushers on primetime.

Tyron Smith must have a vintage performance on Sunday night

After signing a one-year contract with New York in the offseason, it looked like the Jets found an elite left tackle to take over in an all-in year. However, the future Hall of Famer has struggled mightily compared to his standards.

Tyron Smith has allowed five sacks this season, which is tied for the second most among offensive tackles. To put these struggles in perspective, Smith allowed just five sacks total from 2018-2023.

On top of this, the 33-year-old has allowed 16 pressures on the season where he finds himself tied for seventh most among offensive tackles in that category.

Sunday night will be one of Tyron Smith's and Morgan Moses' toughest tests of the season. T.J. Watt enters Sunday's matchup with 4.5 sacks and 15 pressures on the season.

Watt has also tallied three forced fumbles on the season, including two on Sunday against the Raiders. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has 101 sacks in his career and finds himself in the heart of the DPOY conversation again.

Both Smith and Morgan Moses will see Watt on Sunday night, but Smith remains the biggest X-factor and question mark on this offensive line. After a good start, the struggles have been alarming for the Jets, which brings up the biggest question going into this game.

Can Smith turn back the clock to stop one of the league's best? The Jets will need him to be at least solid if they want any chance in this game.

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