CANTON, Ohio — Mekhi Becton was back in a football game for the first time in nearly two years.
The 2020 first-round pick started the Hall of Fame Game against the Browns on Thursday night at left tackle for the Jets after he had missed all but one game in the last two years due to right knee injuries.
Becton exited the game pretty early, at least on offense.
He came out in the middle of the Jets’ second series of the night after he had played just seven snaps.
He did come back in on field goal and extra point attempts after that.
The Jets had said the plan was for Becton to play 20-25 snaps, but he told the trainers he did not feel comfortable playing more and exited the game early.
Both Becton and head coach Robert Saleh stressed that this was not a setback.
“That turf isn’t friendly for people of my size and my type of injury. I was feeling it in warmups,” Becton said after the Jets’ 21-16 preseason loss to the Browns. “I just pulled myself a little early. I’m good, though.”
Becton worked this offseason to bring his weight down to 350 pounds, and he is fighting for a starting spot at tackle.
He did a nice job in pass protection on Zach Wilson’s 57-yards throw to Malik Taylor. He exited the game shortly after that.
“He’s fine,” Saleh said. ”It’s just, again, he’s got to build confidence in that [knee] and be able to push through whatever he might be feeling.”
One of the stated goals of the Jets’ defense this year is to force more turnovers.
Even though mostly backups were playing on Thursday, the defense came away with two takeaways.
LB Jamien Sherwood forced a fumble that CB Javelin Guidry recovered.
LB Chazz Surratt intercepted Browns QB Kellen Mond later in the first half.
the Jets’ preseason loss.
The Jets converted those turnovers into 10 points.
Rookie RB Israel Abanikanda scored a 10-yard touchdown, showing his speed to the outside and hitting the pylon on a dive into the end zone. The fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh got the bulk of the work and had 26 yards on nine carries.
DE Will McDonald, the Jets’ first-round pick, showed his speed on a rush and hit of Mond early in the game. He was not blocked, but McDonald showed his closing speed, something the Jets have loved to see in training camp.
There was a 16-minute delay after the third quarter because the lights on one side of the stadium went out.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein had a busy night with three field goals, from 44, 53 and 54 yards.
The Jets do not have any competition in camp for Zuerlein and he showed why he has grabbed the job.
DE Bryce Huff had a sack in the first half. … LB Hamsah Nasirildeen (neck) CB Brandin Echols (hip) and LB Chazz Surratt (hamstring) all left with injuries.
QB Aaron Rodgers wore a headset during the game.
He said earlier in the week he hoped to call plays.
The Jets will return home for practices this weekend.
They will head to South Carolina on Tuesday for joint practices with the Panthers on Wednesday and Thursday before their next preseason game on Aug. 12 in Charlotte, N.C.
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