Jets are expecting a big third season for LI's Jeremy Ruckert
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers approached Jeremy Ruckert late in practice this week and gave him some words of encouragement.
Ruckert, who starred for Lindenhurst High School, is much more comfortable in the offense now. He feels as if he’s anticipating more than reacting. That’s critical when playing with Rodgers, who frequently changes plays at the line of scrimmage. It happened on one of Ruckert’s two receptions Thursday.
“We had a play called and he looked at our side quick and changed it,” said Ruckert, who caught a touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor in a red-zone period on Friday. “Ended up getting a completion on third down. He just said, ‘Good job, stay locked in and keep learning.’ ”
Ruckert, who soaks up everything the four-time MVP tells him, is entering his third NFL season and is expected to play a bigger role with the Jets.
“Ruck’s gotten better since the day he walked into this building,” Robert Saleh said after practice. “He’s versatile. He’s extremely smart. Because of that, we can do more with him. He’s physical. He takes everything personal in a good way where he just wants to be his best. He’s built the way you want him to be built. I think he’s very underrated at his position.”
The Jets were impressed with Ruckert’s toughness and blocking ability when they drafted him in the third round in 2022 out of Ohio State. They think Ruckert, who had 16 catches for 151 yards last season, is growing into a more complete tight end. He’s learned a lot playing with Tyler Conklin.
There was some question about Ruckert’s future as a Jet, though, amid rumors that they would draft Georgia tight end Brock Bowers this past April. They took left tackle Olu Fashanu instead. Saleh said the Jets love their tight end room and were “always locked in on” Fashanu. Ruckert said he ignored it and focused on working on his body and game.
“Free agency, the draft and all that stuff are out of your control,” Ruckert said. “It’s during a time when you can work on stuff in your own game. So not putting too much attention into that, I’m just focusing on myself and not give them a reason to want to do anything else.”
Ruckert now has a chance to help his favorite team as a kid end its 13-year playoff drought. Playing for the Jets was always his dream, and he’s living it out every single day that he puts on their uniform and runs onto the field.
“You dream of this moment for your whole life of just walking on this field every day,” Ruckert said. “That’s why I try to play as hard as I can because that kid watching those games wouldn’t want nothing else other than to be here and be in the moment and not expect anything and play as hard as I can.”
Ruckert also wants to make his family and his supporters in Lindenhurst proud. He loves their passion for the Jets and how much they want to see him succeed. He always can count on seeing someone he knows no matter where he looks at MetLife Stadium.
“Every day I’m here, I just know in the back of my mind it’s what I wanted to do my whole life,” Ruckert said. “My whole town. My whole city is back there rooting for the team and rooting for me. The support staff, the people that I got backing me, you couldn’t ask for a better situation to keep learning, keep getting better and hopefully be here for a long time.”
Vera-Tucker practices
Right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker participated in team drills for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 5 last year. Vera-Tucker will be limited at times and could have scheduled days off as he continues his recovery.
Fashanu replaces Smith
Left tackle Tyron Smith had a scheduled rest day, part of the Jets’ plan to try to keep Smith fresh and healthy. Fashanu took Smith’s spot in team drills. Saleh said the extra reps will be “extremely valuable” for Fashanu.
Jet streams
Receiver Xavier Gipson will miss a week or two with a leg injury. Rookie Malachi Corley should get more reps in Gipson’s absence.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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