Jets have hope for Mekhi Becton this week despite reported timeline

Left tackle Mekhi Becton has been “working through” his ankle injury and will try to play Friday despite an NFL Network report stating he could miss a week or two with a Grade 1 sprain.

“He’ll be part of practice today despite those reports,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said. “… We’re still working through trying to see if he’ll be available for Friday.”

The Jets will hold a walk-through Tuesday ahead of their Black Friday game against the Dolphins.

Becton, who played just one game across 2021 and 2022 due to knee injuries, exited Sunday’s game against the Bills after appearing to get his ankle twisted — as a cluster of players fell around him — when quarterback Zach Wilson tried to avoid a sack.

He has been one of two offensive linemen, along with left guard Laken Tomlinson, to start all 10 games for the Jets this season.

If Becton ends up missing time, Gang Green would be forced to start another offensive line combination.

They could get Duane Brown (hip) back, but his 21-day window to get activated from injured reserve closes Thursday.

Saleh said Monday that they’d try to push him physically with more contact in practice, but he didn’t have any additional updates Tuesday before the walk-through.

Rookie Carter Warren, the Jets’ fourth-round pick in April, was a “pleasant surprise” filling Becton’s spot at left tackle Sunday, Saleh said.

Warren was placed on injured reserve following the Hall of Fame Game against the Browns with an undisclosed injury before getting activated Oct. 14, and he also sustained a season-ending meniscus tear to end his collegiate career at Pittsburgh.

Injuries forced Warren to miss most of training camp and OTAs, which put him “significantly behind the eight-ball,” according to Saleh.

“Kinda like what happened to [offensive lineman] Max Mitchell last year, we’re not expecting him to get on the field,” Saleh said. “He got his opportunity, and he did really well. If he does have to go this week, it’ll be another opportunity for him to grow.”

Offensive linemen Xavier Newman (undisclosed) and Billy Turner (finger) are “trending in the right direction” for playing Friday, Saleh said.

Cornerback Michael Carter II (hamstring), injured in Friday’s practice before missing Sunday’s game, will get an opportunity to practice full-speed Wednesday, but Saleh said he’s “not sure” about the slot cornerback’s status.