With all the hand-wringing about the Jets’ offensive line over the past few weeks, one development has not gotten enough attention.
Joe Tippmann, the team’s second-round draft pick, has begun to climb up the depth chart and establish himself as a potential starter this season.
Tippmann received first-team reps at center for the first time this week and then shifted to guard after injuries to starters Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laken Tomlinson left the Jets thin at the position.
“It’s unfortunate that he’s getting these reps at guard, because of the injuries, but he’s got so much athleticism and he’s got elite strain in his game, which is awesome,” head coach Robert Saleh said. “Obviously, he’s got to learn all this stuff and continue to just work on the nuances of football, but really excited about him. He is going to be a good football player for a very, very long time. He just competes his ass off.”
Tippmann began training camp working with the third-string offense.
The Jets re-signed veteran center Connor McGovern this spring and they also brought in Wes Schweitzer. Both of them initially were getting reps ahead of Tippmann.
But Tippmann opened eyes in the first two preseason games, when he played more than anyone else on offense. He played 46 snaps in the Hall of Fame Game against the Browns and then 53 last week against the Panthers.
He played center in both games and played well enough for the Jets to begin alternating him with McGovern on the first team. The injuries at guard halted that plan and Tippmann was expected to start at left guard against the Buccaneers on Saturday night.
The Jets took Tippmann in the second round in April out of Wisconsin. He was the team’s biggest move this offseason on the offensive line, a position that has gotten a lot of scrutiny in training camp.
Read Related Also: 13 Longest Celebrity Engagements
It was surprising early in camp to see Tippmann down the depth chart, but he has been climbing. He said he has felt his comfort level growing.
“I think I’ve definitely felt that,” Tippmann said. “Just kind of getting the opportunity to go out there in the games, and I say ‘worry free,’ but just to be able to cut it loose and play without worry of making mistakes and put my best self on tape. I think that’s helped me to elevate my game and take those necessary steps.”
The Jets have consistently said they will play their “best five” on the offensive line.
One has to wonder if Tippmann can show that he deserves to start at center, if not to begin the season, perhaps at some point in his rookie year.
“What we love about Joe is he just fights his butt off,” offensive line coach Keith Carter said. “He’s earned the right to get some more reps with the twos and we put him at left guard for the first time almost out of nowhere [Wednesday] with the ones and he battled like crazy. He’s doing a nice job. He’s still early in that maturation process but he’s progressing.”
Tippmann had not played guard since early in his college days, but he said he embraced the opportunity to play there while Tomlinson and Vera-Tucker recover.
“The first day I was a little uncomfortable,” he said. “I think I’m gaining that comfort level and being able to jump back and forth between there and center is a great opportunity for me.”
McGovern was re-signed by the Jets just days before they drafted Tippmann. The Jets told McGovern they expected to draft a center, so he was not shocked by the pick, and he is now trying to mentor Tippmann.
“Bringing Tipp along,” McGovern said, “if that’s my legacy, if I can turn him into a Hall of Famer and then be in Canton one day pointing to him when he gives a speech that would be great. That’s part of the game. I had guys when I started bringing me along that knew I was there as a young player to take their job. It’s a tough job, it’s a tough industry to be in but it’s part of it.”
