The New York Jets’ ailing offensive line suffered another blow, losing the veteran Ijalana to a shoulder injury for the season.
New York Jets offensive tackle Ben Ijalana is out for the season, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports.
Ijalana, 29, was set to enter his eighth NFL season and sixth with the Jets. According to Cimini, he hurt his shoulder during this week’s joint practice sessions with the Washington Redskins in Richmond, VA.
The Jets subsequently announced that they placed Ijalana, a New Brunswick, NJ native who entered the league as a second-round pick of the Colts out of Villanova, on injured reserve.
This marks another blow to the offensive line for the Jets, who are already missing starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum indefinitely with a foot/ankle issue. Incoming center Spencer Long and returning guard Brian Winters are likewise coming off surgeries this offseason.
Ijalana played 11 games with the Jets last season and signed a one-year deal to remain with the team in March. Brent Qvale, a fifth-year tackle out of Nebraska, will likely see his snaps increase in the wake of Ijalana’s injury.
In a corresponding move to take up Ijalana’s roster spot, the Jets announced the signing of center Gino Gradkowski, formerly of the Ravens, Falcons and Panthers.
The Jets will continue to analyze their beleaguered offensive line’s progress on Thursday night when they continue their preseason slate against the Redskins at FedExField (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN).