Dwayne Brown could return to the Jets offensive line this week
The Jets could get a piece of their starting offensive line this week.
Veteran Dwayne Brown returned to practice Wednesday after missing four weeks with a shoulder injury. Now the Jets must decide whether to activate Brown from injured reserve for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins or wait. Brown should be activated within three weeks.
Brown, who signed with the Jets in August and was expected to start at left tackle, sounded upbeat Wednesday even though he wants to test the shoulder in Thursday’s practice when the Jets have pads.
“We’ll see,” Brown said. “[Wednesday] it was a really good step forward in the right direction. [Thursday] we’re going to put the pads on and turn up the intensity a little more. I’m feeling pretty good right now. That’s all I can say.”
Jets coach Robert Saleh did not reveal his offensive line plans for Sunday. If Brown can play, he will be the third different starting left tackle the Jets have had. Brown injured his shoulder in practice before Week 1, forcing George Fant to switch from right tackle to left tackle. Fant then injured his knee in Week 3 against the Bengals and was placed on IR. Alijah Vera-Tucker moved from right guard to left guard to replace Fant in last week’s game against the Steelers.
Vera-Tucker may now be asked to move to right tackle if Brown can play left tackle. The Jets liked Nate Herbig at right guard last week.
“I don’t know, man,” Vera-Tucker said when asked if he could play proper time. “I, being so confident, would say yes. But at the end of the day it depends on the coach.”
QB Zach Wilson was limited in practice Wednesday with an ankle injury. Saleh played down the injury, but Wilson was not on the field during the portion of practice open to the media. He joined the practice later. Wilson had taped his left ankle.
Saleh initially described the injury as “scratches and bruises.”
“This is football,” Saleh said. “He’s got ankle problems but he’s fine.”
RB Breece Hall (knee) and LB Marcell Harris (neck) were also limited. LB Quincy Williams (ankle) and OT Max Mitchell (knee) did not practice. DE Vinny Curry returned to practice from IR. The team had 21 days to add him to the active roster.
The Dolphins have a long list of injured players. The following players did not practice on Wednesday due to injuries:
QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion, back, ankle), WR Jaylen Waddle (groin), CB Xavien Howard (groin), OT Terron Armstead (toe), OL Robert Jones (back), TE Cethan Carter (concussion) and DB Keion Crossen (gluteus/shoulder).