One of the brightest lights to this miserable Jets season has been dimmed for the final two games.
Rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu, according to Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, is being placed on injured reserve with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and that will end his promising season.
“It’s unfortunate,’” Ulbrich said. “He’s having a great rookie season. But at the same time, these injuries sometimes give you an opportunity to step back and really start absorbing some of the information as you were kind of thrown into the fire. And he’ll use it as an opportunity to grow, I know that.’’
The 22-year-old Fashanu, whom the Jets drafted with the No. 11 overall pick in the first round out of Penn State, has had a terrific rookie season since taking over the starting role for veteran Tyron Smith after Smith sustained a neck injury in November.
- CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND JETS STATS
Though Max Mitchell replaced Fashanu after he was injured in last Sunday’s home loss to the Rams, Ulbrich said Mitchell and Carter Warren “will battle it out this week’’ to see who starts against the Bills.
Fashanu appeared in 15 games this season and made seven starts at left tackle.
After beginning the season in a utility role, he took over for Smith during a Nov. 10 game against the Cardinals. He allowed 12 pressures and one sack on 230 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
Ulbrich raved about Fashanu after the Rams game, saying, “I absolutely believe that Olu is the left tackle for the New York Jets for a long, long time. For a rookie to come in and play as he has, it’s astounding. You don’t see it very often.
“People like to throw this around way too often, but he’s a 10-year guy. He has all of it. He’s got the mental [and] emotional makeup, plus the physical tools. I’m excited about his future.”
In other injury news, Ulbrich said it’s “too early to tell right now’’ about the status of QB Aaron Rodgers (knee), DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring) and CB Sauce Gardner (hamstring) for Sunday’s game at Buffalo.
“We’re hopeful for all of them (to play),’’ Ulbrich said.
The Jets conducted a walk-through practice on Tuesday.
When asked what Rodgers’ game status for Buffalo is, Ulbrich said, “If I’m a betting man, I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers to play. He does whatever it takes to get on the field on Sundays and I anticipate him trying to do the same thing this week.”
The Jets kicking situation is up in the air. Does that sound familiar?
In the wake of Anders Carlsson missing an extra point and a field goal in the 19-9 loss to the Rams, the Jets signed Greg Joseph to the practice squad.
Joseph is the fourth kicker the Jets have employed this season after Greg Zuerlein struggled and was placed on IR with a left knee injury.
Riley Patterson, Spencer Shrader and Carlson have filled in since. If Joseph kicks on Sunday, he’ll be the fifth kicker they’ve used this season.
“We’re going to let these guys compete as the week goes on and see how it goes, put the best guy out there,’’ Ulbrich said.
He said bringing Zuerlein off IR is “absolutely been part of the conversation.’’
Asked if Zuerlein is healthy enough to kick again, Ulbrich said, “We’re going to see how he’s doing, and if he’s feeling up to it and he’s feeling good, then we’ll open up his (practice) window.’’
