With four days remaining before the Jets-Broncos Week 4 tilt at MetLife Stadium, the Green & White are dealing with a pair of injuries to veteran starters.
Captain C.J. Mosley (toe) will not practice Wednesday after he missed the game against the Patriots last week and RT Morgan Moses, who sustained a knee injury on the final play of the third quarter during Thursday's 24-3 win, will miss a couple games.
"We'll see how things go," HC Robert Saleh said of Mosley. "We're planning on giving him so vet days anyway. I don't want to say we're going to be overly cautious, but we're just making sure his toe doesn't become a problem."
Moses will not be placed on injured reserve, which would have knocked him for at least four games. The Jets are expected to start 21-year-old rookie Olu Fashanu at right tackle. Fashanu, the No. 11 overall pick out of Penn State, made his debut in Week 3 with 14 snaps once Moses exited the game.
"He's been getting a lot of reps," Saleh said of Fashanu. "We got him a lot of reps in the second half of camp at right tackle. He got more comfortable as camp went on. We have a lot of faith in Olu to go out and execute."
Fashanu (6-6, 312), started two years for the Nittany Lions at left tackle. The Jets started cross-training him at right tackle prior to their second preseason game vs. Carolina on Aug. 17.
Fashanu's first start will come against the Broncos No. 3 rated defense that is tied for fifth in sacks (11) and tied with the Jets for third in pressures (29).
"Defensively, they're different than this time a year ago where they were still trying to figure out who they were from a defensive standpoint where now I think they've got a clear-cut identity," Saleh said. "They're doing a really nice job."
One of the staples of Denver's defense is All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl CB Patrick Surtain II. Surtain, the No. 9 overall pick in 2021, has had at least 10 pass defenses in each season.
"Pat is one of the best players in the league at any position," QB Aaron Rodgers said. "He plays both sides, he plays in the slot. Not a lot of star coverage corners do that, so lot of respect for Pat."
Surtain will likely line up against Jets WR Garrett Wilson, who has 15 catches, 150 yards and 1 touchdown through three games as defenses have shaded their coverage to try and limit Wilson.
"You try to put him in situations where he can be the No. 1 in the progression, which he is a lot, and then mix up the looks," Rodgers said of the third-year wideout. "We have to do a lot of things to give him a chance to get moving and we'd like to get the ball to him early, but it's just a process. He has to be patient, we have to be patient and we can't force it. Pat is a phenomenal player, but Garrett is, too. It's going to be a good matchup with those two guys."
Saleh added: "They're daring us to go somewhere else with the football and that's why I think we had so much success everywhere else against New England … If you're putting two over one, somebody is getting a one-on-one and we feel good about our guys having the chance to go win.
"When those one-on-ones do happen, I know we're trying to get him the ball and take advantage of those situations. Once that starts to click, it'll be pretty cool."
