The Jets Are Already Destroying Mekhi Becton’s Career Before It Can Even Take Off
New York Jets fans were thrilled when the team drafted Louisville offensive tackle Mekhi Becton in April’s NFL draft.
Jets fans should have known better. Whenever the team does something right, they always destroy their own success and potential.
Jets head coach Adam Gase has received mass criticism for how he’s handled several of the team’s injuries, including Becton’s nagging shoulder ailment. At this point, the New York Jets are actively destroying Becton’s career before it can even take off.
Mekhi Becton is having a terrific rookie season
Mekhi Becton was supposed to be the Jets’ savior on what has been a dismal offensive line.
When Becton was healthy, he more than lived up to the expectations. Despite playing in an injury-plagued offense and blocking for a regressing Sam Darnold, Becton — starting at left tackle — looked like the Jets’ MVP through the first three games.
Standing 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 363 pounds, Becton is a bullying presence in the trenches. Draft analysts and scouts praised Becton’s strength and his ability to serve as a game-changing body at the line of scrimmage.
Jets fans thought they had something to be happy about. The Jets hadn’t had a dominating offensive lineman since D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold were in their prime in the mid-2010s.
But, of course, nothing ever goes right for the New York Jets.
Becton is currently battling a shoulder injury
Mekhi Becton suffered a shoulder injury in the leadup to a Week 3 road game against the Colts.
Although Becton played that game, he left at the end of the first half and did not return. Adam Gase said the injury wasn’t as serious as the team initially feared, but New York still kept Becton on the bench for a short-rest matchup with the Denver Broncos in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football.
New York unofficially listed Becton as the emergency option. That role lasted just four plays, when Becton replaced backup Chuma Edoga — who suffered an injury of his own — at left tackle.
Becton lasted 17 snaps before reserve Conor McDermott replaced him. TV cameras caught Becton wincing after most plays.
Becton did not participate in the Wednesday or Thursday practices leading up to a Week 5 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
The Jets are already destroying Mekhi Becton’s career
Adam Gase and the New York Jets are truly the masters in the art of ruining things, and that bodes poorly for Mekhi Becton going forward.
Becton looked like a surefire star at Louisville and to start his NFL career. He is a player the Jets can build around in hopes of breaking the NFL’s third-longest playoff drought.
Now, the Jets have to wonder if Becton will play at a high level again this year — and if the shoulder injury is one that could affect Becton going forward.
The New York Jets, clearly, can’t have nice things. And Mekhi Becton, who talked up getting to play for the Jets and dominate in the green and black, now has to ponder what would have happened if another team drafted him.
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