Thursday’s practice brought a mixed bag of updates for the New York Jets faithful. On one hand, there was a collective sigh of relief as the sight of their fearless field marshal, Aaron Rodgers, fully participating with the team, buoyed spirits. Rodgers, who’s been dealing with a knee that looked puffier than a Thanksgiving turkey earlier this week, didn’t let last Sunday’s battering by the Broncos dent his resolve. Rest assured, Rodgers has no qualms about leading the charge against the Vikings on Sunday in London. If passion and persistence had a poster child, Rodgers would be front and center, staring right back at defenders like an artist challenging a blank canvas.
The Protector’s Plight
In a cruel twist of fate, one of Rodgers’ protectors, right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, appeared on the injury report with a possible hitch in his giddy-up, due to an ankle concern. His participation was limited, setting the stage for a nail-biting “will-he-won’t-he” leading up to the kick-off. Keep those eyes peeled, because Vera-Tucker’s role is crucial in keeping the pocket as secure as Fort Knox.
Trouble at the Front Line
As if the drama needed an encore, right tackle Morgan Moses finds himself sidelined again, the knee still not showing any signs of wanting to join the gridiron gala this week. The team marked him out for a consecutive game, a move that leaves the Jets’ O-line looking to others to step up. Meanwhile, the stalwart linebacker C.J. Mosley continues his toe-tapping dance with limited practice action. And it seems like the lauded left tackle, Tyron Smith, took a cue from Lord Grantham and had a rest day befitting Downton Abbey.
The Jet’s kingdom is a battleground, my football friends, with injuries making it tougher than a Peruvian trekking beneath the dark clouds of Machu Picchu. But remember, this is the NFL. Anything can happen faster than you can say “Hail Mary.” The stage is set for an epic showdown in the Wembley of the Gridiron, so let’s hope the Jets fly fast and true!
