The Jets revised their line of attack last off-season in the hope that a unit that was a source of constant change in 2019 would be stabilized.
Instead, the only constant was change.
Over 13 games, the Jets have had eight different offensive line combinations – one shy of their 2019 mark – due to injuries, with center Connor McGovern being the lone lineman to start all 13 games this season en route to Sunday’s game against the Rams.
“There has been setbacks and setbacks will make us stronger,” McGovern said Friday. “I think it is a good basic platform to grow up.”
Of course, their injuries over the course of the Jets’ 0-13 season weren’t limited to just the offensive line. McGovern has been the Jets’ offensive ironman – their only player, period, to have started all 13 games. The lack of continuity is just one of the growing list of reasons why the Jets have the league’s 32nd offense in both yards and points.
But McGovern wouldn’t apologize, nor would he harbor the idea that all the loss is good for the Jets because of what it could mean in terms of landing the No. 1 draft pick.
“I’m not putting my body through this, I don’t think anyone on the Jets would put their body through it to lose,” said McGovern. “ It might be easy for someone sitting on the couch eating pizza, fries and dip to tell them to keep losing, but if they ever fasten the pillows, that sounds like an impossible thing to me. I’m going to do what I can to win. “
For McGovern, that meant playing through a hamstring injury that nearly kept him out of the Jets’ Week 3 game against the Colts after knocking him out of defeat to the 49ers the week before. He played 772 of 792 offensive snaps this season (97.5 percent), nearly 100 more snaps than the next player – guard Greg Van Roten, who played 689 snaps (87 percent) before going into reserve after week 13.
Adam Gase was reminded of McGovern’s start on Friday, saying he shouldn’t ignore it before praising the center’s preparation and communication. McGovern heard his rapid count and patted the wooden podium on which he stood.
“I’m very proud of it,” said McGovern. It’s rare for someone who’s a good offensive lineman to just sit down and make him stop playing because of a small notch or an injury. It is part of the position, you are proud of it. You have to be a tough guy to play in the trenches. It’s 65-80 fights in a game and that’s what you think.
“I’ve always been told there is a difference between getting hurt and getting hurt. As long as you are injured, you can continue to play offensive line. So that’s kind of a mindset I’ve always had in it. “
While uncertainty surrounds the Jets this off-season, with possible quarterback and head coaching changes and perhaps even more roster overthrow, McGovern is a safe bet to return to the middle of the Jets’ offensive line next season. The $ 27 million three-year contract he signed last off-season includes guaranteed money in 2021, not to mention the consistency he’s delivered to the Jets in a season where he was surrounded by anything but.
“Honestly, I think it’s been a good growth year for me,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of personal growth, started a little rougher than in the past and playing at a much higher level here in this homestretch and being the player the Jets paid me for and hopefully more than the Jets. paid me to be. “