Jets offensive line raises questions

Aaron Rodgers found out that life as a Jets quarterback is a lot more different than when he was the Packers quarterback during a joint practice against the Carolina Panthers at Wofford College this past week.

The new Jet ran to avoid pressure from Carolina’s defensive line. He would have been sacked twice had the Panthers' defensive line allowed to touch him. By wearing a red jersey during the scrimmage, it was clear neither him nor Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, this year’s No.1 overall draft pick, was going to be touched.

Nevertheless, Rodgers received his Jet baptism just by joining many Jets quarterbacks that would run for their lives, even if it was not an actual game. He may have to get used to it. This Jets offensive line is nowhere close to what he worked with when he was under center with the Packers.

They were a question mark heading to the season, and it sure did not erase any doubts during the Jets’ joint practice and a preseason game against the Panthers.

The lack of protection on the quarterback served as a culprit to why the Jets went three-and-out against the Panthers in a two-minute drill to end the scrimmage. Rodgers admitted the line has to get better.

In the exhibition opener against the Panthers on Saturday, the Jets struggled upfront by giving up too much pressure once again.

Go ahead and say the guys are feeling each other out, but Jets starting quarterback Zach Wilson worked with the same guys and he struggled. This group killed Mike White when the other team’s front four sacked him often to the point he was done for the season. What’s going to change from now until October when teams complete 1/4th of the season?

We all love to rip Wilson for being so bad at quarterback, but if he had decent pass protection, would he be struggling last season? That’s a fair question to ask.

Yes, a great quarterback can overcome a bad offensive line, but the problem is Rodgers is 39 years old, so he won’t be able to run past pass rushers like he used to. He is susceptible to getting hit even harder as he experienced in a joint practice last week.

Duane Brown, Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mekhi Becton, Billy Turner, Joe Tippmann, Wes Schweitzer, Max Mitchell, Carter Warren, Yodny Cajuste and Trystan Colon represent the Jets offensive line depth chart.

Only Vera-Tucker is a sure thing of that unit. The rest are all question marks. You know it’s bad when the team is trying him out at tackle just to fill a need there and find someone to plug in at guard.

Becton can’t be counted on to stay healthy. He is always injured, and he left the Hall of Fame game against the Cleveland Browns last week after having a hard time playing on the turf that limited him to seven snaps. Yes, he played against the Panthers, albeit playing with second-and-third team stringers, but until he shows he can play for a full season, it’s hard to rely on him.

Duane Brown was productive last year, but how much more does he have left at the age of 38? Oh, and he is on the injured list, though coach Robert Saleh expects him to be ready in Week 1.

The rest are not even worth commenting on since they are not good at all. Panthers pass rusher Brian Burns had his way against Mitchell in the joint practice, which had Rodgers running for cover.

The Jets are actually looking at the waiver wire and trying to make a trade to get offensive line help. This can never be a good thing when a team is searching for something better.

It’s not like Jets general manager Joe Douglas has neglected on improving upfront. He spent money on draft picks to address the issue. He drafted Becton and Vera-Tucker for their potential.

With building strong pass protection, teams have to hope and get lucky that it worked out like the Philadelphia Eagles and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs experienced. If it was that easy to build it, all 32 teams would have a good one.

The Jets haven’t had one since D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold left. This explains why the offense has been offensive to watch and why Jets quarterbacks struggle to develop.

Who knows how it’s going to get better? Either these guys have it in them or they don’t. For the Jets to try to move Vera-Tucker to tackle and try to find other guards to fill in the puzzle, there have to be questions about the protection Rodgers will receive as we get ready for the season.

Jets fans have every right to be excited about this season with the future Hall of Fame quarterback commanding the offense and the defense being a game-changer.

But it says here the Jets are going to be in third place in the AFC East. They will be fighting for a wild-card spot.

The offensive line casts doubt about the offense, even with Rodgers under center.

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