For Joe Tippmann, the 2025 season has been about embracing an unexpected opportunity.

Tippmann moved from center to right guard after Alijah Vera-Tucker sustained a season-ending injury ahead of Week 1, and the third-year player said he decided early on to "buy into the position."

"It wasn't on my bingo card going into the season," he said. "Being able to commit my full time to learning to make myself a better guard, I think it's been great. Being able to make jumps each game, learn and grow, put better stuff on tape each week -- it's one of my goals and something I've been striving to do."

This buy-in has earned the respect of HC Aaron Glenn, who stressed the value of having an "unselfish" player who stepped up and "just did his job."

"To have guys like that on your roster, man, you're talking about a culture of players that really love ball," Glenn said ahead of Week 14. "I love the way he goes about his business, and he's done a hell of a job for us this year."

Tippmann has been an integral member of a unit that has embodied continuity. The Jets have had the same 5 starting O-linemen in all 13 games this season.

"Back in my rookie year -- I think in maybe 11 or 12 starts -- we had 12 different starting lineups," Tippmann said. "So, to be able to go from that just a few years ago to having this consistent group of O-linemen who are going to do whatever it takes to step in there and take the field each week, it's something that we definitely don't take for granted."

While the Jets have fallen short of some of their goals this season, Tippmann said his unit has approached each matchup aiming to "perform at a high level no matter what the situation is." And the unit has delivered on several occasions. The Jets have established a strong rushing attack throughout the season, and the team's 128.4 average rushing yards per game rank seventh in the league.

But Tippmann knows his unit will face a challenge as it prepares to face a Jaguars' defense allowing the fewest average rushing yards per game (82.9).

"You definitely have to kind of wire into it early in the week," he said of preparing for the matchup. "It's on us individually, as O-linemen and tight ends, to be able to lock into our individual matchups."

Looking ahead to Week 15 and beyond, Tippmann said the unit's approach will remain unchanged -- continue to produce, regardless of the circumstances.

"To be able to go out there and play physical, relentless football," he said. "That's our goal each week for the rest of the way out. Just to dominate."