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Jets 2026 Make or Break: Has Josh Myers found a permanent home with New York?
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- Jets 2026 Make or Break: Has Josh Myers found a permanent home with New York?
NFL training camp starts soon, which means players around the league are getting their last bits of offseason work in before the real work of trying to make the roster begins.
For certain players, this season is what some may call make or break, meaning they need to put together a productive year or they could be looking for employment elsewhere at the end of the 2026 campaign.
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We'll be highlighting those players for the Jets and are continuing today with center Josh Myers .
2025 Stats (17 games, all starts)
- 1,046 offensive snaps played (led team)
- Three sacks allowed
- Seven offensive penalties
Why Make or Break?
The Jets signed Myers to a modest deal in free agency last season, but it was widely expected that he would come off the bench. The coaching staff suggested he was in a competition for the starting center role with Joe Tippmann, but – based on rotations and preseason usage – it seemed apparent that Tippmann was set to win that contest. However, everything changed when Alijah Vera-Tuckersuffered a season-ending injury in practice right after the preseason.
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With Tippmann forced to move to right guard to replace Vera-Tucker, Myers was suddenly thrust into a starting role at center. He responded well, as he started all 17 games along with the other four starters. Although he might be considered a weak link, the unit performed well as a group, and Myers was rewarded with a two-year extension and a modest pay increase at the end of the season.
With Vera-Tucker and John Simpsoneach departing in free agency, Tippmann will remain at guard. As a result, Myers' starting role seems secure for now and New York will be hoping to build on the continuity they built in 2025. However, there are other options they could turn to if Myers falters or misses time due to injuries.
What will break it?
As noted, Myers is viewed by some as the weak link in last year's offensive line. If that's the case this season too, opposing teams might start looking to exploit him, and the Jets could consider upgrading at the end of the season.
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They could even make a change in the middle of the season if the offensive line experiences a downturn in play, or if Myer struggles. Both guards – Tippmann and free agent Dylan Parham– can also play the center position, so if someone at the guard position has a great camp and earns a shot at some playing time, Myers could theoretically move to the bench with minimal disruption. Rookie Anez Cooper, long-time reserve Xavier Newman, or the versatile Max Mitchellcould establish themselves as potential candidates.
Myers' durability is one of the things that likely attracted him to the Jets as a useful target last offseason. He had started 50 of the previous 51 games over the previous three years, playing over a thousand snaps in each. However, if he gets hurt, that's going to give other players an opportunity to stake their claim to the role.
What will make it?
The main reason for Myers to remain optimistic that he can maintain his role is that the Jets are building an offensive line and will be looking to minimize disruption in order to continue to build chemistry and cohesion. By all accounts, Myers is an excellent communicator and a good leader, so he should play a major role in that consolidation process.
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One of the most important things he will need to do is establish a rapport with new quarterback Geno Smith. Myers already had a relationship with last year's starter, Justin Fields, because of their time together at Ohio State. However, he doesn't have that with Smith. His linemate Parham does, though, having played with him last season in Las Vegas, albeit at left guard.
Myers has already established himself as a consistent starter, although he may lack an elite level of upside. However, he's constantly working to improve his technique and consistency. This process should be made easier by the chemistry he will already have developed from playing alongside Tippmann and the confidence he will have gained from holding the role down effectively throughout last season.
