Olu Fashanu isn't overwhelmed by the idea of guarding another player in place of a future Hall of Famer.
The Jets' first-round draft pick will start Sunday at the position he calls home for the first time in a while.
Left tackle Tyron Smith hasn't practiced and will likely miss the game against the Colts with a neck injury, so someone will need to cover Aaron Rodgers' blind spot.
“It's definitely a big responsibility,” Fashanu said. “But I try not to think about it that way. We're already in a very high-pressure environment, so I'm not going to put any more pressure on myself.”
Fashanu practiced exclusively at right guard last week (a position he had never played in his football career until a disastrous situation against the Texans on Oct. 31) and, when Smith was injured, played at left tackle. He jumped in and impressed his teammates and coaches. Cardinals.
Offensive play caller Todd Downing said, “He's really showing poise for a young player. That's great to see and certainly a valuable trait for a player in his position this year.” “We are excited about his future and his progress both internally and externally.”
The 31-6 loss to the Cardinals that effectively ended the Jets' 2024 playoff hopes was a turning of the page in Fashanu's chapter, which began with him allowing two pressures on 26 pass-blocking snaps. It seems reasonable to think that it may also have meant .
Fashanu's previous two games were starts at right tackle, so he has played three positions, all requiring different technical adjustments.
General manager Joe Douglas always knew the sixth man on the offensive line would be called upon at left tackle at some point, as Smith, a free agent addition, hasn't played a full season since 2015.
“I think that's his comfort zone,” Downing said. [draft] Perhaps what he saw was the future there. It was encouraging to see him be able to go out and execute. ”
It's just not surprising.
“I hate him because he's insanely athletic,” veteran right tackle Morgan Moses quipped. “What you want in a rookie is a guy who's willing to be selfless. He's a first-round pick and you might say, 'No, I'm going to make tackles,' but he's going to be like, 'No, I'm going to make tackles.' I'm going to do anything for the team and to get on the field, and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability. You appreciate a guy like that.”
Fashanu's popularity with his teammates is evidenced by the fact that after Thursday's practice, Rodgers, running back Breece Hall, and a group of offensive linemen jeered and yelled at him about the media attention he received, and spoke to his inner circle. It was clear from the jokes he cracked.
“I think it's a good sign that they like me,” Fashanu said. “If they didn't do that, I think I might not have fulfilled my rookie obligation.”
Fashanu's duties against the Colts could include blocking for Laiatu Latu, who was picked 15th overall, four picks after Fashanu, and fellow former first-round pick Kwity Paye.
“It’s never easy, but just being back in the position that I played in college and high school brings a sense of familiarity,” Fashanu said. “I approach it the same way every week, trying to find different details in the run and pass game to improve.”
Smith (five sacks, six penalties) hasn't played up to par this season, but it would have been complicated for the Jets to bench the eight-time Pro Bowler.
The injury created an opportunity to further develop Fashanu, who is respected for the way he blocks out distractions.
“You can't ask for anything more than a rookie moving around at different positions. It's one of the hardest things to do, but he doesn't blink,” Moses said.
“It's only going to make him even better because his mindset now is, 'I know what the guards are thinking, so I can anticipate what I have to do at left tackle and help the guards at the same time. If you can see football from a broader perspective, it will help your ability and growth. ”
