Morgan Moses is 33 years old and a veteran of 10 NFL training camps and 152 games.
Still, he admitted to being a little nervous before showing up to practice with the team on Friday, in the midst of his 11th training camp, giving the Jets their full offensive line for the first time this summer.
“Tyrone [Smith] “He helped me out a little bit today,” Moses said after practice. “He looked at me and said, ‘Hey, run off the ball.’ And I said, ‘Hey, you’re right!’ And then things started to click.”
The Jets are expected to start the season with a five-man unit of Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Aliyah Vera-Tucker and Moses, with the right tackle recovering from pectoral muscle surgery being the final piece to fall into place.
It’s a small milestone — Moses is still counting the pitch count equivalent — but one he’s excited about.
Moses recalled complaining to Aaron Rodgers about not playing in games on his first day in New York.
Coach Rodgers told him to take his time and that the Jets don’t need him at this time.
“I was like, ‘Aaron said so, so I get it, OK, let me take it slow,'” Moses said. “Especially the veterans, you have to be reminded of those things because all you know is work, work, work. You have to be reminded of those things. Sometimes you’ve got to get out of your way.”
Moses, who will return to the Jets in 2021 before spending the next two years in Baltimore, should round out a unit that welcomes two new tackles after struggling for much of last season.
Of course, the importance of protecting Rodgers has been stressed and underscored after the quarterback was injured four snaps last season, and the offensive line has been an issue throughout 2023 camp.
The Jets can’t allow that to happen again.
That’s why Smith was brought in and why Moses was brought back.
“He’s an elite guy,” Saleh said of Moses. “His locker room presence, the way he prepares, he’s a veteran. … He takes great care of his body. He’s not shy about bringing younger guys in and communicating with them and giving them a hand. He’s played in three NFL facilities, so he knows what it’s like. He has great experience and he’s not shy about passing that on to other people.”
Saleh noted that, realistically, the Jets can’t expect their front line to stay fully healthy through 17 games.
The training that has taken place in Moses’ absence – with Olu Fashanu, Max Mitchell and Carter Warren training with the first team – has also been important.
But the most important thing is building a chemistry with five of the best offensive linemen.
“That’s really important, right? Because the offensive line is the only group outside of the quarterback that never leaves the field,” Moses said. “… It’s definitely great to be able to work together and have the same mindset and watch the game together as one unit. That’s definitely great for us.”
Playing alongside 2021 draft rookie Vera Tucker again for the first time in three years was especially fun for Moses.
The same goes for Smith, who has been one of the league’s best left tackles year after year and was a second-team All-Pro selection last season.
“Looking at Tyrone, we were in the same division back when I was at Washington,” Moses said, “so I got to see how he played and what he’s done. We were coached by the same offensive line coach, so we have the same mindset.” [Bill Callahan] “We’ve spent a big part of our careers off the field, so we can empathize with off-field stuff and talk about technique and stuff like that.”
Now they can identify with a common goal.
