Just days before the New York Jets were scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Steelers for their Week 1 season opener, the Jets received some devastating news. Starting right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a significant injury that may require surgery. The Jets' veteran is quickly being ruled out against the Steelers and is slated to miss significant time.
Vera Tucker, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has struggled to stay on the field in the past but is excellent when he plays. Last year, he played 15 games and graded out as a top-10 guard, according to Pro Football Focus. With an extremely young offensive line, he was the leader of the group. This is a massive loss for New York.
But the Jets' misfortune instantly creates a golden opportunity for one Steelers rookie.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie DL Yahya Black could explode onto the scene against the New York Jets
Yahya Black is expected to see significant action with first-round rookie Derrick Harmon already ruled out with an MCL sprain that will sideline him early in the season. Black, Pittsburgh's 2025 fifth-round pick out of Iowa, is coming off a tremendous preseason performance. In the preseason finale against the Panthers, Black wrapped up his evening with back-to-back sacks.
What looked like a daunting task for the rookie is shaping up to be an opportunity to explode from the gate. Black is expected to see significant time filling in for Harmon. But instead of going against the experienced Vera-Tucker, it looks like Black may be getting a matchup against Joe Tippman.
Tippman has already proven himself as a good player in his first two seasons, but he wasn't prepared for a position change just days before kickoff against the Steelers. Tippman is a center by trade who is expected to kick over to right guard, as Josh Meyers, the backup center, will take his place in the starting lineup.
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With T.J. Watt, Keeanu Benton, and Cam Heyward next to Black on the defensive line, the Jets obviously won't be able to afford to send attention to Tippman's assignment. This means that Black will get some opportunities in one-on-one situations.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a chance to turn the Jets' injury misfortune with Alijah Vera-Tucker into a huge opportunity for rookie Yahya Black and the defensive line. We'll see if they can take advantage.