Mekhi Becton blames Jets coaching staff for season-ending injury in 2022
New York Jets offensive lineman Mekhi Becton may not have the best relationship with his coaching staff. When talking about the past two NFL seasons — plagued by injuries — he had no trouble pointing the finger at the staff for putting him in a bad position.
Becton has appeared in just one game over the past two years due to injury. A knee issue bothered him in 2021, then he switched to right tackle before the start of the 2022 season. Before the opening kickoff, the former Louisville standout suffered a season-ending injury.
In an interview with Newsday, Becton said the blame (essentially) falls on the staff.
“It made no sense to put me at right tackle. I hurt my right knee. That’s going to be the knee that I put the most pressure on [while backpedaling in pass protection],” Becton said. “I explained it [to the coaches], but no one cared…I got forced to play a position I don’t play, and then I was pretty much telling them I wasn’t feeling good the whole time throughout camp, and I was told I shouldn’t be complaining.
“Go out there and do it. I was limping throughout the whole practice, and I just took a step and my knee buckled and I got hurt again and had to get reconstructive surgery.”
Becton was then asked about his current relationship with the staff in New York. It’s not exactly the most glowing review.
“They’re OK. I mean, it is what it is,” he said.
Mekhi Becton excited to start training camp
Although he might have a rocky relationship with the Jets staff, Becton says he’s looking forward to training camp. After missing essentially the last two seasons, he’s ready to get back on the field.
“This is the most excited I’ve ever been going into training camp,” he said.
With the Jets landing quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the offseason, there’s been a lot of hype surrounding the team. It’s created a lot of confidence for the team, too.
Becton believes the roster is in good shape and the Jets can find a lot of success in 2023.
“I don’t want to look too far ahead, but I definitely feel way more confident than I’ve felt these past three years,” Becton said. “I feel like we’re going to win a lot of games, have a lot of fun, and just the energy and vibe with the players at the facility is uplifting.”