On the Mend, Rookie RG Returns to Jets' Practice

It was certainly a welcomed sight for the New York Jets' interior offensive line.

Starting right guard Joe Tippmann, who has not played since leaving the Week 6 win over Philadelphia due to a quad injury, was seen participating during the stretching portion of Thursday's practice in Florham Park.

Tippmann was listed as a "limited participant" on the official injury report. Defined as less than 100 percent of a player's normal repetitions, the LP status is an upgrade for the second-round rookie. Tippmann was a non-participant leading up to last week's win over the New York Giants.

As to whether he'll be available for the Week 9 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Robert Saleh suggested the Jets are in wait-and-see mode.

"You guys know me. Of course, I’m optimistic, but we will see. Today will be a big day just to see where he is at," said Saleh prior to Wednesday's walkthrough.

Drafted as a center at No. 43 overall this past April, Tippmann made his NFL starting debut as a right guard in Week 3. As part of the Jets' reconfigured offensive line, the 22-year-old rookie made four starts in a row until suffering an injury on the first play of the second quarter in an eventual 20-14 win over the Eagles on October 15.

The 6-foot-6 Tippmann's ability to play right guard allowed the Jets to kick Alijah Vera-Tucker out to right tackle and flip Mekhi Becton over to the left tackle spot as a replacement for the injured Duane Brown. When Vera-Tucker suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in the Week 5 road win over Denver, second-year pro Max Mitchell stepped in at right tackle and has remained there since. 

In more good injury news, Brown returned to practice on Thursday as the Jets opened his 21-day activation window off Injured Reserve. Working his way back from a hip injury, the 38-year-old Brown was participated in full. 

As for the possibility of Tippmann, when able to play again, replacing injured starter Connor McGovern at center, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett sounded open to the idea on Thursday. 

"We’re working all that stuff out. We got a couple more days to figure out who’s going to be available for us and who we are going to be able to put out there," said Hackett.

The Jets will host the Chargers in the final game on the NFL's Week 9 docket on November 6 at 8:20 pm ET on ESPN's Monday Night Football.

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