New York Jets Green & White Practice

It looked grim for the Jets Monday morning, when offensive lineman Mekhi Becton fell to the ground, grabbed at his surgically repaired right knee and needed help getting off the field at training camp practice.

But coach Robert Saleh said after practice that preliminary tests showed Becton’s knee is “stable” and Saleh hinted that the oft-injured 2020 first-round pick could be back on the field soon.

“Everything seems fine, preliminarily,” Saleh said. “Obviously we’re just going to get it checked for precautionary reasons, but as of now it doesn’t seem like it’s a big deal. But, knock on wood, hopefully that stays the case.”

Saleh knocked his right knuckles on the wood of the lectern as he spoke those words. He said Becton will go through all the standard medical exams in the coming hours, including a MRI on his knee. But Saleh reiterated several times that he doesn’t believe Becton was seriously injured.

“I’m not jinxing anything,” Saleh said. “But in my heart, I think he’ll be just fine, we’ll see.”

And given Becton’s unfortunate injury history it would be best to proceed with caution even after the initial positive report.

Last September the Jets feared Becton’s season was over after a Week 1 knee injury, until doctors determined it wasn’t as bad as feared and the big offensive tackle would have the chance to return likely by November. But Becton’s rehab went slower than expected and he didn’t play or practice in the final 16 games.

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Becton’s size – he’s listed at 6-foot-7, 363 pounds – makes it difficult to project how his lower body will respond to injuries.

“We’ll see, if he does have to take some time off, obviously you’re always concerned for everyone,” Saleh said. “I have the same concern for anyone who has to take [time off]. You just don’t want to get into a deficit of conditioning. He is a big man and he’s been working his tail off and he’s been doing everything he’s been asked to do. So hopefully, like I said, everything checks out good, the way we think it’s going to and he can continue building on his track and building like he has.”

The first signs of trouble with Becton’s knee surfaced on Friday when he wore a brace over it during training camp for the first time. His reps were limited during Saturday’s practice at MetLife Stadium but Saleh said that was a precaution because the Jets were practicing on first for the first time and the team wanted to see how his body reacted.

Saleh said Becton checked out fine after practicing on the turf. But early in Monday’s practice, Becton’s knee appeared to be bothering him during individual drills when he was walking with a limp and adjusting the knee brace.

On the second snap of team drills, Becton tried to block John Franklin-Myers and appeared to get his right foot stuck in the ground as he fell backward. He immediately grabbed at his right knee and rolled on the ground in pain.

He tried to get up but needed help from the training staff to get off the field. He took off his pads and walked slowly to the locker room under his own power, stopping multiple times as the medical staff examined his right leg.

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Becton, the No. 11 overall pick in 2020, has missed 18 games in his first two seasons because of injury. The third-year player was moved to right tackle at the start of training camp.

The Jets don’t have much depth behind their five starters. And their top backup tackle Conor McDermott went down during Saturday’s practice with a low-ankle injury that Saleh said will keep him out for the next one-to-two weeks. Chuma Edoga has been taking reps with the starters during training camp and is likely to start Friday’s preseason game against the Eagles if Becton isn’t ready to play.

Former Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown had a free-agent visit with the Jets on Saturday. The Jets could sign him as an insurance policy and move George Fant back to right tackle if Becton suffers another injury or his return takes longer than expected.

But Saleh said that Becton’s injury Monday didn’t increase the Jets’ sense of urgency to add a player like Brown.

“We do really like our backup situation,” Saleh said. “I know McDermott’s hurt – he’ll be back. He’ll be fine. He’s started games for us. Chuma’s started games for us. Getting a guy like Duane Brown is kind of being spoiled in a sense of just having so much great talent at one position.

“But we do have faith in our backup offensive linemen, and anytime you get hurt and you’ve got to test your depth it does become scary waters but at the same time that’s why we put in all this work and do our best to prepare these guys to be able to take those spots. So it doesn’t create panic, at all, in my mind anyway. But a guy like Duane is a bonus.”

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Andy Vasquez may be reached at avasquez@njadvancemedia.com.

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