The Jets opened up voluntary offseason organized team activities (OTAs) with some good news and some bad news.
On one side: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is back and playing with any restrictions. But on the other side: Neither wide receiver Mike Williams nor offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker have been cleared for football activities.
Rodgers appeared to be practicing well almost eight months after he tore his Achilles four snaps into the 2024 season in Week 1. Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters that Rodgers has "no limitations to what we’re asking him to do at practice." Saleh added that only Rodgers can say whether or not he's fully healed from his Achilles injury.
The same cannot be said for Wiliams and Vera-Tucker, though. Neither can practice yet and it's unclear when they'll be recovered enough to join the team.
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Williams tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2024 season before he signed a one-year, $10 million deal with New York this offseason. That contract has an additional $5 million in production bonuses. Williams' return before training camp was not expected, either. Jets general manager Joe Douglas said in March that Williams won't be healthy enough for most of the team's offseason work. However, he was hopeful Williams could start the regular season in September.
Vera-Tucker tore his Achilles in Week 5 of this past season. This was his second consecutive season-ending injury after AVT tore his triceps in Week 7 of his rookie season in 2023. The Jets did, however, pick up Vera-Tucker's fifth-year option in April to keep him on the roster through 2025.
Both Williams and Vera-Tucker are important players for the Jets in 2024.
Williams should be Rodgers' No. 2 pass-catcher behind Garrett Wilson. Rookie Malachi Corley, veteran Allen Lazard and second-year UDFA Xavier Gipson are the Jets' other backup wide receivers while Williams recovers. Vera-Tucker is a do-it-all lineman who played tackle and guard throughout his first two NFL seasons. After the Jets added Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, John Simpson and Olu Fashanu this offseason, AVT is expected to return to right guard as the team's starter. While he's out, Max Mitchell should see a lot of first-team reps.
This is just the beginning of the offseason work for New York, but the Jets need their key players to be healthy in time for the start of the season. A lot is riding on the Jets' ability to rebound from their 7-10 season a year ago, and that includes the availability of their stars.