Brian Winters is a likely holdover in 2019, but don't rule out an upgrade.
There’s no getting around it. The Jets offensive line has been far worse than anticipated through the first two weeks of the season. After adding a pair of former All-Pros in left guard Kelechi Osemele and center Ryan Kalil, the expectation was that the group would improve as a whole. Well, through two games that hasn’t been the case, and some changes may be coming.
Following his team’s 23-3 loss on Monday night football at the hands of the Cleveland Browns, Adam Gase told reporters that he was going to watch the film to determine who was doing their job and who wasn’t, in an effort to see where changes may be necessary.
Well, one spot where a change was clearly necessary as it took place during the game was at center where Kalil was benched in favor of Jonotthan Harrison, who did appear to play better than the previously retired Kalil. Unless Kalil blows the coaching staff away in practice this week, Harrison should get the nod at center, but that’s not all.
Brian Winters has been a liability in the run game for some time now and carries a heavy price tag. With free agent addition Tom Compton and former Raven Alex Lewis on the roster, the Jets should, at the very least, give some of Winters’ practice reps to another player in an effort to light a fire under him. If that doesn’t work, give somebody else a look in his spot.
Next to Winters is Brandon Shell who has been up and down to say the least since coming to the Jets, and rookie Chuma Edoga is worth taking a look at in his place. Edoga may not have the functional strength as of yet, but he’s got more of a mean streak than Shell and should be an upgrade at some point.
Whether these are the moves the Jets make or not remains to be seen, but one thing we know is that it can’t be the status quo in week three. At the very least they should be looking to sit Kalil while putting others on notice.