Getty New York Jets center Connor McGovern reacting with his teammates during an NFL game.
A New York Jets starter suffered a gruesome injury during the Week 8 contest versus the New York Giants.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport shared on Monday, October 30 that starting Gang Green center Connor McGovern “suffered a dislocated knee cap.”
He said the veteran offensive lineman suffered some other damage with the injury but the good news is “there’s a chance he doesn’t need surgery.” McGovern “will get a second opinion” and moving forward is “considered week-to-week.”
#Jets C Connor McGovern suffered a dislocated knee cap, sources say. There is some damage that it caused, but there’s a chance he doesn’t need surgery. McGovern will get a second opinion and is considered week-to-week.
Rapoport reported late on Sunday that McGovern is “expected” to miss some time.
Jets Will Have to Call an Audible at the Line of Scrimmage on OL
The 30-year-old had served as the starting center with the Jets since he signed a three-year deal in free agency back in 2020.
Over the last three and a half seasons, McGovern had appeared in 55 out of 57 possible games. In a violent sport with so many injuries, the former Missouri product was as reliable as they come.
This offseason it looked like he and the Jets were destined for a split with weeks passing in free agency. However, the two parties were able to come together ahead of the 2023 NFL draft to strike a deal.
He signed a one-year deal for 1.9 million to return to the green and white. When McGovern first signed with the Jets he originally signed a three-year deal for $27 million.
Now the Jets will have to pivot, at least for the time being, to a new center to man the offensive line in 2023.
Jets Were Dealt a Bad Hand but Adapted Well During Giants Game
There aren’t many plays in the playbook for your third different center in a singular football game.
However that was exactly the hand the Jets were dealt on Sunday against the New York Giants on October 29.
McGovern had been a true ironman for the team since he arrived. He was never considered the best center in the league, but he always hovered around league average which often times was taken for granted.
That near perfect attendance record will no longer be taken for granted with this injury sidelining him for the near future.
The Jets had a ton of mistakes in the Giants game highlighted by two lost turnovers. Only one of which can be directly linked to a new center, Xavier Newman, who muffed the exchange with quarterback Zach Wilson.
Ultimately the Jets were able to overcome those issues to win the game and improve to 4-3 on the season. However who will be lining up at center for the Week 9 matchup versus the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football is still very much up for debate.
Gang Green has absorbed nearly as many injuries in the trenches as they did last season. The constant changes on the offensive line due to injury have disrupted the flow of an offense that was already struggling to find their rhythm.
This offense was designed with Aaron Rodgers in mind, but he was lost for the year four plays into Week 1. Ever since it has been a constant battle to try and find the identity of this offense.
Lets be clear… Zach wasn’t paying attention at the time of the snap. IT WAS NOT the centers fault!!!
Everything is Zacs fault with you haters, he won the game with 24 seconds left in game to get it in to OT but don’t give him credit for that.
Geez.