The New England Patriots signed Alijah Vera-Tucker away from the New York Jets knowing that his health gave him the unfortunate boom-or-bust tag. Unfortunately, Vera-Tucker has once again shown that staying available is a major problem for him.
Vera-Tucker has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, which could sideline him for a good chunk of the 2026 season. Before a Thursday night clash against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, New England added another former Jet in backup Xavier Newman-Johnson to the active roster.
After a slow start, Vera-Tucker has looked every bit like the cornerstone he was promised to be with the Jets. Unfortunately, he has also failed to stay healthy, and it comes at a very inopportune time when many Patriots offensive linemen are suffering significant bumps and bruises.
New England Patriots guard Alijah Vera-Tucker placed on injured reserve
Vera-Tucker's injury comes after left tackle Will Campbell decided to play through a fairly noteworthy knee injury and right tackle Morgan Moses also had to leave Week 6 with a foot injury. Caleb Lomu has looked great, but if he hits a rookie wall at an inopportune time, that could be catastrophic for Drake Maye and the offense.
Vera-Tucker, whom the Jets traded up in the 2021 NFL Draft (yes, the Zach Wilson year) to acquire, has now been placed on injured reserve in four of the last five seasons. His injuries aren't just minor scrapes picked up through the gladiatorial nature of the NFL. Vera-Tucker's injury history reads like a horror movie.
AVT played just 12 games combined in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, playing in only seven games in the former before a torn triceps knocked him out and five games in 2023 prior to a torn Achilles. Vera-Tucker missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his triceps again right before what was supposed to be his make-or-break season.
This hamstring issue hasn't arisen to that level of severity, but Vera-Tucker's status as a perpetual training room resident is still very much alive.
The New England Patriots need a healthy Alijah Vera-Tucker
The Patriots performed well against the Jets in their Week 6 win, but one of the team's biggest issues is a poor pass rush. Against more robust opponents, like the NFC North gauntlet they must run over the course of the next two months, not having Vera-Tucker could become much more noteworthy.
Even though he's performed well, signing Vera-Tucker to a long-term contract was always going to be a risky proposition due to his consistent inability to stay healthy in his professional career. Just one-third of the way into his first season in Massachusetts, and Vera-Tucker has already seen his effectiveness sapped by his body letting him down.
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