Rookie Joe Tippmann proves he belongs as Jets’ center

There have not been many positives about the Jets offense this season, but they do seem to have found their center for the next several years.

Rookie Joe Tippmann has started at center for the past five games after starting at right guard in four games earlier in the season. Tippmann has held his own. He has allowed just one sack and 11 pressures, per Pro Football Focus.

“He’s doing a really nice job,” coach Robert Saleh said. “He gets a battle scar every week, which is what you want out of a rookie. He’s going to be a very good center for a very long time, a very good center for a long time. He’s a special mind, he’s a special individual, he strains, he’s got good feet. Every day he’s learning something new, it’s important to him. He’s going to be a Jet for a damn long time.”

The Jets selected Tippmann in the second round of last spring’s draft out of Wisconsin. He was third on the depth chart at the start of training camp, but began working his way up in the preseason games.

He got a chance to start at right guard in Week 3 then shifted to center after Connor McGovern suffered a season-ending injury at the end of October.

“I guess I didn’t know what to expect, especially I ended up starting at guard in Week 3,” Tippmann said of his rookie season. “After that, I was like, ‘Oh [crap], I’m going to be a guard in the NFL.’ Then whatever week it was I moved to center. It has had its … I don’t want to say ups and downs, but it’s had its surprises.”

McGovern still helps Tippmann each week prepare for opponents and then they review the game after it is over.

Tippmann said the adjustment from the Big Ten to the NFL has not been “horrible” but he said there are things he has had to learn.

“The big thing is the differences,” Tippmann said. “When you get in the red zone in college, it’s like maybe they’ll pressure a little bit more. In the NFL, it’s set. You’re going to be getting a lot more pressure. It’s going to be like you’re going against almost a fully different defense when you get down there. I think that’s a big thing I’ve adjusted to.”

The Jets signed OL Jacob Hanson to the active roster, and he could start at RG on Sunday.

OL Wes Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve with a calf injury.

The Jets also elevated OL Chris Glaser and DL Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad.