When the 2023 NFL regular season began, the New York Jets were considered a veteran-heavy offense that could compete with some of the top groups in the AFC.
As the calendar turns to December, the veteran-laden team has struggled to operate as a functional offense, and the youth movement has officially begun. Due to injuries to key players along the offensive line, and at quarterback, the Jets have had to turn to rookie draft picks like Joe Tippmann, Carter Warren, and Israel Abanikanda.
Through the last few weeks though, there is reason for optimism with those offensive rookies, particularly along the offensive line.
“It is about opportunity,” Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett explained. “It is about guys growing, it is about being a young team, it is about being able to give them the experience to actually go out there and play football in live situations. For us, any experience you can get on the field is priceless.”
The biggest name that has stepped up has been second-round rookie Joe Tippmann. Before the season began, there was hope that the Wisconsin product could grow into the team’s center of the future over the coming years.
It didn’t take years to determine just how good Tippmann could be, though.
“Watching him respond is unbelievable, he soaks everything in, he wants to learn more, and he is getting better, and I think that is the key,” Hackett explained.
Tippmann has been the lone bright spot on an offense that has struggled to maintain healthy linemen all season. New York is entering Week 13 and has already used 13 different linemen and eight different line combinations – both numbers are among the highest of any team in the NFL today.
Due to the revolving chairs of players in all five positions, the Jets have had to rely on rookies and second-year players they weren’t expecting before the season began.
One of those players is fourth-round prospect Carter Warren.
Warren understood that he wasn’t expected…
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