Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said Thursday that RG Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained a triceps injury this week in practice and will miss the 2025-26 NFL season. He added that the rehab is expected to take approximately seven months.
A first-round pick of the Jets (No. 14 overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft, Vera-Tucker (6-5, 308) started all 43 games he appeared in the past four seasons. He displayed his OL versatility when called on, logging starts at every position except center since his rookie season and starting at RG, RT and LT in '22. He is the longest-tenured Jets offensive lineman and was slated to start between either Joe Tippmann or Josh Myers at C and rookie RT Armand Membou.
"When it comes to who's going to be up as far as the O-line, I'm still getting that evaluated." Glenn said. "… He was a big player for us, but we have to continue to keep rolling."
Vera-Tucker, who also had a season-ending triceps injury in 2022, was voted one of the Jets' six team captains on Aug. 28.
"Throughout my career, I haven't had the opportunity to do that," Vera-Tucker said of his increased leadership role. "So more and more now I take advantage of those opportunities to be a vocal leader and lead not only O-line but the offense and the team as well, so it's cool. You never know when this game could be taken away from you, so you have to take advantage of it."
