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New York Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker reportedly suffered a significant arm injury during practice days before the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Athletic's Dianna Russini on Wednesday (September 3).
"Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has suffered a potentially serious injury and could miss significant time, source says. New York’s offensive line takes a hit ahead of its Week 1 game against the Steelers. Vera-Tucker was just named a captain for [head coach] Aaron Glenn," Russini wrote on her X account.
Tucker is reportedly seeking a second opinion before deciding on whether to undergo surgery, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who confirmed Russini's initial report.
"It is an arm injury, he is getting a second opinion and Vera-Tucker might now need surgery, per sources," Schefter wrote on his X account.
The Jets didn't provide a public comment on the report Wednesday (September 3) as they don't have practice or media availability scheduled. Vera-Tucker started 16 games during his rookie season in 2022 and 15 games in 2024, but was limited to just seven games in 2022 and five games in 2023 due to injuries.
The former USC standout was expected to ease the transition for rookie right tackle Armand Membou as a veteran presence one position over in 2025. Vera-Tucker is in the final year of his rookie contract and is guaranteed to make $15.3 million as part of his fifth-year option as a first-round pick in 2021.