On Thursday night against Houston, the Jets endured a pair of first-half injuries to LG John Simpson (groin) and RG Jake Hanson (hamstring). Already down starting RG Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) and OL Wes Schweitzer (hand) heading into the game, offensive tackles Olu Fashanu, a rookie, and third-year lineman Max Mitchell stepped up to play 35-plus snaps at guard, despite limited experience at the position, contributing to a 21-13 victory for the Green & White.

"We always try to practice with, talk and live with a next man up mentality," veteran RT, and member of the Jets' leadership council, Morgan Moses said. "And those guys went out there and played that way. They didn't blink. They just took the role that was given to them. And my hat's off to them for being ready."

With 2 minutes left in the first half, following a sack of QB Aaron Rodgers, Simpson went down holding his leg and Mitchell entered at left guard. With 55 seconds left in the half, Hanson went to the blue tent and Fashanu, who had never played a single snap at guard in high school or in college, checked in at right guard.

"It was pretty straightforward," Fashanu said. "After John got hurt, coach [Keith] Carter [the Jets running game coordinator and offensive line coach] just told me that if the opportunity presented itself, I was going to go in at guard.

"And I was just like 'OK, let's go!' It helps a lot that I have such a great center in Joe [Tippmann] and a great tackle to play t next to in Morgan [Moses]. I was in good hands playing with those guys."

Prior to Thursday, Mitchell had started once at right guard last season versus the Chargers in Week 9, the only time he had played the position in his career, and played 81 snaps. Fashanu, the Jets first-round pick in April's NFL Draft (No. 11) had played primarily left tackle at Penn State and had no experience playing guard.

"I went into the game knowing that I was going to be one of the first guys in," Mitchell said. "So, I had a mentality that I had to be ready to go. And once I went in, I knew that I needed to go out there and make the most of opportunity. It is a crazy league, and you hate to see guys go down and it sucks, but I just went out there trying to make the most of the chance to play."

During training camp, Fashanu and Mitchell took reps at multiple positions -- Fashanu at left and right tackle and Mitchell at guard and tackle -- in case the Green & White, who played multiple different offensive line combinations in '23, would need to be flexible. Thursday, Fashanu got more than he could have ever bargained for.

"I started asking questions to AVT [Alijah Vera-Tucker], who was on the sideline," Fashanu said. "And I started talking to Wes Schweizer, John Simpson and all the interior guys, for tidbits they could give because, honestly, it was a totally new position for me."

Mitchell added: "I really tried to focus on guard a little more this year since I had played so many years playing tackle. I knew how to play tackle pretty well from an operation and technique standpoint. So, when a couple guys went down last year, I knew I had to focus more on it, and I talked to John and AVT on the sideline and got out there."

With Fashanu, Tippmann and Mitchell manning the interior, the Green & White scored 21 points in the second half, ran the ball for 3.6 yards per carry (15 attempts for 55 yards) and Rodgers was not sacked.

"[Fashanu] freaking balled the hell out," OL Max Mitchell said after the Houston game. "I couldn't be more proud of the dude. He's been working his tail off. He has taken zero guard reps so then to get thrown into the first today, I think he was a little overwhelmed with how much information we were giving him, but I mean he's a stud. He played light out."

Fashanu played 37 snaps and, according to Pro Football Focus, allowed zero sacks or QB hits, 2 pressures and 2 QB hurries over 23 pass block snaps. And Mitchell played 46 snaps and surrendered no sacks, 3 QB hits and 5 pressures in 30 pass block reps.

"I just learned that this is the nature of the league," Fashanu said. "It is a next man up mentality. You have always got to be dialed in and locked in, making sure that whenever your number is called that you're ready to contribute."