It’s not clear when Olu Fashanu’s next snap at left tackle will happen, but the Jets are confident that it will be the first of many more to come.
The rest of Fashanu’s rookie season is in doubt after he left the postgame locker room Sunday on crutches to meet up with his family.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich declined to reveal anything further about Fashanu’s injury Monday while waiting for scans to be reviewed by the team’s medical staff, but the Jets would be foolish to risk any long-term complications by rushing Fashanu back to play in the final two games of a lost season.
“I absolutely believe that Olu is the left tackle for the New York Jets for a long, long time,” Ulbrich said. “He has demonstrated that. For a rookie to come in and play as he has, it’s astounding. You don’t see it very often — not just at the left tackle spot. He showed the ability to [be] reverse versatile across the board at the guard spot, right tackle spot, etcetera, so I’m excited about his future.”
Serious injuries usually bring forth solemn reactions in NFL locker rooms, but Fashanu wore his usual big grin even as he struggled to move around. A team spokesperson prohibited Fashanu from conducting a postgame interview.
“He’s a battler so I know he’s going to be all right,” right tackle Morgan Moses said. “Keep him in good spirits. He did what he was supposed to come here to do. I’ve got a lot of respect for that man.”
After beginning the season in a utility role for the offensive line, Fashanu took over at his natural left tackle position for injured future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith during a Nov. 10 game against the Cardinals. He allowed 12 pressures and one sack on 230 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
“People like to throw this around way too often, but he’s a 10-year guy,” Ulbrich said. “He has all of it. He’s got the mental [and] emotional makeup, plus the physical tools.”
Fashanu’s development over the second half of the season has been key for the Jets, especially in light of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers building a strong case to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
There was great debate last offseason over whether the Jets should draft an offensive tackle for their long-term build (even though he might not play immediately behind Smith and Moses) or target a pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers with their first-round pick.
Because receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze all were off the board by the time the Jets were on the clock, Bowers would have been that alternative. Fashanu was the third offensive tackle taken (behind the Chargers’ Joe Alt and Titans’ JC Latham) at No. 11 — one pick ahead of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and two before Bowers.
The Jets’ vacancies at general manager and head coach should be more attractive to candidates because the makings of a young offensive line are in place with Fashanu (22 years old), left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (25) and center Joe Tippmann (23). Right guard John Simpson, 27, is under contract, too.
The Jets inserted Max Mitchell — who has 12 career starts — at left tackle to replace Fashanu, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter. Mitchell could finish the season at left tackle and bolster his argument to compete at right tackle or be the swing tackle on the 2025 roster.
Mitchell called Fashanu a “sponge” for soaking up knowledge from veterans.
“It really sucks seeing people go down,” Mitchell said. “He’s been awesome all year. I think he’ll bounce back fine. He’s already got a smile on his face. He’s still a young dude and made of rubber.”