Jets Rookie Olu Fashanu Proves His Worth

Fashanu, 21, played all 51 snaps on offense and an additional 5 snaps on special teams against the Colts. And despite being back in his preferred position, he offered an honest critique of his performance.

“It’s definitely not my best,” he said. “It’s tough. It’s tough. I think being a tackle in the NFL, being an offensive lineman in the NFL is a very tough job. And, you know, it’s really cool. For me, it’s the best of the best.” Guys like Morgan and Tyron go out there every week and make it look easy, but I think being a pro is making the tough easy.”

With the Jets shut down until their Dec. 1 visit to Seattle, the veteran Smith will have more time to recover from his neck injury. Fashanu is certainly ready to step back at left tackle or anywhere on the O-line where his talent is needed. Fashanu called the situation “a little weird” when he said Vera-Tucker was at right guard against Houston.

“I’m happy to help the team win when they needed a guy to step up,” he said, referring to the 21-13 Thursday night victory over the Texans. “Just watching the film, it was definitely a little strange to see me at right guard. I’ve watched myself at left guard my whole life.”

Moses said he saw from the other side of the offensive line against the Colts a young player who is putting all the knowledge and support he has acquired in his few months in the NFL to good use.

“Hey, you’re a first-round draft pick, go out there and make it happen,” Moses said. “But people don’t see the back-end work he puts out there every day, morning and night. I’ll get random text messages: ‘What do you think about this?’ This is a guy who is willing to work on his craft and strive for excellence. So when you see him go out there and work the way he does, of course none of us are perfect, but you see him going out there playing with the intention of being a great offensive lineman, that’s what you see.”