Jets get huge continuity back for critical Cardinals matchup

The past two years, Alijah Vera-Tucker exiting a game with an injury also doubled as the end of his season.First, it was the ACL.

Then, the Achilles.Both gutted the Jets’ offensive line, forcing them to adjust without the former first-round pick.

And when paired with other absences, the tweaks usually ended up being anything but seamless. For the past two weeks, the unit teetered on the brink of spiraling again.Vera-Tucker, Gang Green’s right guard, missed time with a high-ankle sprain.

Left guard John Simpson (groin) exited with an injury.So did backup guard Jake Hanson (hamstring).

Olu Fashanu — the Jets’ first-round pick who was supposed to sit and watch and learn during his rookie season before taking over as their left tackle of the future — ended up at right guard against the Texans on Halloween, a position he hadn’t even practiced before. This was the 2024 rendition of the Jets scrambling and cobbling together combinations on the fly.It set the stage for a recent stretch filled with uncertainty as statuses settled into place.

But their extended break after a “Thursday Night Football” win has proven beneficial: Vera-Tucker, Simpson and Morgan Moses were all full participants in practice Friday, and head coach Jeff Ulbrich expected the trio all to play against the Cardinals.So for the first time since Week 7 and for just the sixth time this season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be protected by his top collection of linemen — with the offense already entering with some mojo after erupting for 21 points in the second half of the Houston win. “It’s huge,” Ulbrich said after practice Friday.

“All five offensive linemen plus Aaron feeling the best he’s felt in a long time from a mobility standpoint, so excited about both of those things.” At the very least, the Jets will have some continuity with their offensive line.They’ll have Rodgers — a self-described “jackrabbit” this week with his energy — entering off his b...