#Jets rookie Mekhi Becton appears to reinjure shoulder vs. Broncos

It took four plays for the Jets to break the glass and use their in-case-of-emergency left tackle Mekhi Becton. Now, their first-round draft pick might be broken for real.

The Jets avoided what appeared to be a serious injury to quarterback Sam Darnold in the first half of Thursday’s game against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium, but Becton entered and then departed in the second half with what appeared to be an injured left shoulder.

Becton didn’t start the game due to the shoulder injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis, but he entered 90 seconds into the first quarter after an early injury to his replacement, Chuma Edoga, on the fourth play from scrimmage.

The 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft didn’t make it until halftime. On Darnold’s first series back after going to the locker room for tests following a sack by Denver linebacker Alexander Johnson. Becton was beaten for a sack by Bradley Chubb and dropped to the ground on the third-down play, landing on his shoulder. He remained on his knees for several seconds and was replaced on the next offensive series at left tackle by Connor McGovern.

“What the Jets did with Mekhi Becton tonight was irresponsible and stupid,” former Giants offensive lineman and current Fox Sports analyst Geoff Schwartz tweeted. “They knew he’d tell them he could play. He’s a rookie. The team is supposed to look out for the future of their core players.”

The 6-foot-7 Becton left Sunday’s loss to the Colts late in the second quarter and did not return, but coach Adam Gase was encouraged following an MRI exam on Monday that the rookie tackle would be available for Thursday’s game.

“The MRI and everything turned out better than really we were thinking [Sunday] night,” Gase said Monday. “We’ll kind of see how he gets through the rest of the week and possibly he could play in this game. There’s just going to be a lot of work in the training room to see where he’s at by Thursday.”

Edoga suffered what the Jets said was a shoulder injury on the fourth play from scrimmage and was questionable to return.