The New York Jets could be without guard Alijah Vera-Tucker for a very long time because of an upper-body injury.
Jets’ Alijah Vera-Tucker Receives Devastating Injury News
Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has suffered a potentially serious injury and could miss significant time, source says.
New York’s offensive line takes a hit ahead of its Week 1 game against the Steelers. Vera-Tucker was just named a captain for Aaron Glenn. pic.twitter.com/HZYx0DCF8z
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 3, 2025
The Jets’ offensive line might have taken a hit before taking their first snap of the regular season.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Vera-Tucker has suffered a “potentially serious injury” and could miss significant time.
Vera-Tucker suffered a torn triceps during Tuesday’s practice. If Vera-Tucker gets surgery, his season is over. Vera-Tucker will likely seek a second opinion before deciding on surgery.
Vera-Tucker suffered a triceps injury in 202 that ended his season. This new injury is to the opposite arm.
The injury comes one day after Vera-Tucker was named one of the Jets’ captains.
Vera-Tucker is entering the final year of his rookie contract and would have likely received a lucrative contract from the Jets or another team in free agency. Now, this injury puts Vera-Tucker’s financial future in jeopardy.
Since being drafted by the Jets in 2021, the first-round pick has quickly elevated himself as the Jets’ best offensive lineman.
When Vera-Tucker plays, he has the talent to be one of the league’s best guards. However, the 26-year-old suffered season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023. Vera-Tucker played 15 games last year and arguably had his best season as a professional.
Early reports out of training camp were that Vera-Tucker became the anchor of the Jets’ offensive line. First-year head coach Aaron Glenn has expressed his desire to establish a dominant running game this season, and Vera-Tucker’s elite play was cited as a reason for the team’s change in offensive philosophy.
What Do The Jets Do At Offensive Line?
More on the Alijah Vera-Tucker injury news and what it means for the #Jets O-Line, from @DMRussini and myself:https://t.co/po37xzrByU https://t.co/c3pg3oFqrZ
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 3, 2025
Even if Vera-Tucker comes back at some point this season, it won’t be until the end of the year.
The Jets must now replace a top guard days before the season begins.
The likely move for the immediate future is to move starting center Joe Tippmann over to guard to replace Vera-Tucker. Tippmann has experience playing right guard.
With Tippmann potentially moving to guard, backup center Josh Myers would become the starter.
The Jets loved the idea of playing Vera-Tucker next to right tackle Armand Membou, their first-round pick in April’s draft. Now, Tippmann will have to ease Membou’s transition into the NFL.
The Jets face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. The Steelers’ defensive line is one of the best in the NFL thanks to All-Pros T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
