Joe Tippmann’s Shift to Right Guard

This summer, Joe Tippmann was in a tough competition for the Jets’ starting center position. However, everything changed when Alijah Vera-Tucker tore his triceps just before the season started, and Tippmann found himself stepping into the role of right guard.

Last week, he made the transition and performed impressively against the Steelers. The offensive line, including Tippmann, was instrumental in the running game, which racked up an impressive 182 yards without allowing any sacks or quarterback pressures. This marked Tippmann’s first regular-season game appearance since his rookie year in 2023.

“That was good,” Tippmann commented. “It felt a lot like my rookie season. I had most of the week to get things settled, and it was great to get back into the rhythm. I’m excited to build on last week.”

Interestingly, there are opinions circulating in the league suggesting that Tippmann may actually be better suited for the guard position rather than center.

With Vera-Tucker out for the season, Tippmann is now positioned as the guard for the foreseeable future—unless anything changes with Josh Myers at center. Tippmann noted the ease that came with not having to manage the center’s responsibilities, such as calling protections or snapping the ball. “It definitely made things simpler for me last week.”

“As long as I was in there playing center, I didn’t realize how much I had to think about,” he explained. “Now, not needing to snap the ball allows me to focus more on blocking rather than constantly thinking about declarations. You can really help Josh as much as possible while freeing up some mental space for yourself.”

In other news, the Jets have added cornerback Korie Black from their practice squad, who was originally a seventh-round pick by the Giants.

On a different note, Del MacDonald received a fine of $14,441 for making aggressive gestures during a Steelers game.