Jets’ Worst Alijah Vera-Tucker Fears Confirmed in Injury Nightmare

The New York Jets received confirmation of their worst fears on Thursday when head coach Aaron Glenn announced that guard Alijah Vera-Tucker tore his triceps and will undergo season-ending surgery. Glenn delivered the news before practice, explaining that the recovery process will take roughly seven months, meaning Vera-Tucker will not return for the 2025 season. “It is what it is,” Glenn said, acknowledging the blow to the team and noting that they have to “keep rolling.”

The injury occurred during a one-on-one drill in practice earlier in the week, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, who first reported the details before Glenn confirmed them publicly. The setback forces the Jets to make immediate adjustments along the offensive line, with Glenn indicating that he has not yet finalized how he will reshuffle the unit. The most likely move, however, involves sliding starting center Joe Tippmann over to right guard, Vera-Tucker’s position, and inserting Josh Myers at center to anchor the middle.

The timing of the injury is particularly damaging as the Jets prepare to open their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose defensive front features three formidable names: T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Alex Highsmith. Rookie defensive lineman Derrick Harmon has already been ruled out for Pittsburgh, but the Jets will still face one of the NFL’s most aggressive pass rushes while adjusting to life without their top interior lineman.

Sportsbooks updated lines after the injury news. DraftKings listed the Steelers as three-point favorites with a total of 38.5. BetMGM also set the line at Steelers -3 with a total of 38. FanDuel posted Steelers -3 at +100 and Jets +3 at -122, with moneylines Pittsburgh -148 and New York +126, and a total of 37.5. Caesars listed the Steelers -2.5 at -120 and the Jets +2.5 at +100, with moneylines -155 and +130, and a total of 38.5. Covers reported Steelers -3 with a total of 39.5 and moneylines near -155 and +130. CBS Sports noted the Steelers -3 with a total of 37.5. FanDuel also listed passing yard props of 173.5 for Justin Fields and 203.5 for Aaron Rodgers.

Vera-Tucker’s absence also affects leadership. At 26 years old, he was named one of the Jets’ team captains for the 2025 season, and he was coming off his best year as a pro. In 2024, he appeared in 15 games, looking fully healthy for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2021. His durability had given the Jets hope that he was ready to anchor the offensive line alongside rookie right tackle Armand Membou, a first-round pick brought in to strengthen protection for quarterback Justin Fields. Now, Membou will begin his career without the veteran presence who was supposed to line up next to him.

Injuries have been a recurring issue for Vera-Tucker. He missed 22 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, including 10 in 2022 after tearing his right triceps and most of 2023 following a torn Achilles. This latest setback adds another 17 missed games to his career total and the difficulty he has faced staying on the field consistently.

The timing is also challenging for Vera-Tucker personally. He is in the fifth year of his rookie deal and will be a free agent in 2026. Analysts had considered him a strong candidate for his first Pro Bowl this season, and NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal ranked him as the No. 8 pending free agent for next offseason. Instead, the injury clouds his contract outlook and raises more questions about durability.

For the Jets, the task is now to establish stability on the offensive line before facing Pittsburgh in Week 1. Glenn has not committed to a final configuration, but the expected change is Tippmann moving to guard and Myers taking over at center. With the season just days away, New York must adapt quickly.