Days before Christmas, and the 2024 season is drawing to an end. Unfortunately, the New York Jets have been dealing with the holiday blues. After splitting the Florida road trip with a Miami Dolphins loss & a Jacksonville Jaguars win last week, the Jets returned to MetLife Stadium. Entering the game, the Jets were without star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams out due to a hamstring injury. With the red-hot Los Angeles Rams. Despite a great 99-yard opening touchdown drive, the Jets only scored three points for the remainder of the game. They not only lost the game 19-9 but they were dealt a major blow by losing rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu with a foot injury. The 11th overall pick in the draft was thriving in his return to his natural position. The ex-Nittany Lion is among the few bright spots in a disappointing season. Now his rookie season ends on injured reserve with two games left on the schedule.
Standout Jets Rookie Done for the Season
In April, the New York Jets traded the tenth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings. As part of the return, New York received the 11th overall pick in exchange. Once Minnesota drafted Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, New York followed by drafting Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu. A three-year starter, Fashanu was an experienced offensive tackle for James Franklin’s offense. At 6’6″ and 315 lbs, he towered over most edge rushers and became a trusted pass protector for Sean Clifford and Drew Allar. His junior year finished with First Team All-Big Ten & consensus All-American honors.
Due to Fashanu’s young age at 21, New York believed it would be best to develop behind veteran left tackle Tyron Smith. Fashanu earned playing time replacing the injured Morgan Moses at right tackle. The offensive line as a whole struggled with pass protection for a majority of the season. The team was 3-8 and struggling on both sides of the ball, even after acquiring Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. Part of those struggles were from a diminished Tyron Smith. He no longer looked like the future Hall of Famer beloved by Dallas Cowboys fans. After Smith was placed on IR, Fashanu was named the starting left tackle vs. the Indianapolis Colts.
Olu Fashanu showed franchise Left Tackle potential
Despite losing to Indianapolis, the Jets offense scored their most points in a game at the time with 27. New York was able to give Aaron Rodgers more time, which made a significant improvement in the passing game. In the following three games, the Jets offense averaged 26 points per game before the Rams game. Rodgers has thrown six touchdowns with only one interception and finally found that chemistry with Davante Adams once more. In addition, the team utilized Breece Hall more in the screen game, playing into his strength as a receiving back. Olu Fashanu has played in 15 games this season with seven starts. While a small sample size, Fashanu has shown flashes of pass protection not seen since D’Brickashaw Ferguson retired.
Foot Injury ends Fashanu’s season
During the fourth quarter of the game, the Rams took the lead from the Jets after Aaron Rodgers lost a fumble after being sacked inside the New York 30-yard line. On the following drive, Aaron Rodgers found Allen Lazard on a nine-yard pass near midfield. After the play, Fashanu was on the ground and couldn’t get up. Struggling to put weight down on his left leg, the rookie was carted off the field. Immediately replaced by Max Mitchell, New York couldn’t get enough protection. Back-to-back incompletions resulted in a turnover on downs. With Tyron Smith also on IR, expect Mitchell to finish out the season as the starting left tackle.
Post-game, Fashanu was seen in the locker room on crutches. After the initial scare of an Achilles injury, reports showed the injury to be plantar fascia. The injury will force him to miss the final two games of the season. After a lost season without a playoff spot at 4-11, the best long-term care is to allow Fashanu time to recover. Fashanu became a difference-maker once starting at left tackle. With uncertainty in the front office, at head coach, and quarterback are concerned; Jets fans should be confident knowing they have an impact player at left tackle. Only 22 years old, Olu Fashanu has potentially a decade of opportunity to prove he can thrive in the league. Learning from two well-respected veteran offensive tackles between Smith and Moses, he has the skills to take the league by storm.
Main Photo: [Brad Penner] – USA Today Sports
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