The Sunday night showdown between the Jets and Steelers packed two blockbuster debuts into Acrisure Stadium: Aaron Rodgers reconnecting with his old friend Davante Adams, and Russell Wilson stepping out in black and gold. But an unexpected exit rewrote the night’s script before halftime.

Alijah Vera-Tucker limped to the Jets‘ locker room, his ankle betraying him after a brutal sequence. “Looked as though he got rolled up on earlier in the drive and then maybe again on the 2-point conversion,” field reporters noted. The guard’s final appearance came during that conversion attempt, where he gutted through obvious discomfort before heading to the tunnel.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Jets’ offensive line. Their ground-and-air attack had just found its groove, with Breece Hall turning four catches into 93 yards, including an explosive 57-yard gain. Hall’s 13-yard touchdown scamper had pushed New York ahead 7-3, showcasing the line’s early dominance.

Rodgers, benefiting from that protection, had pieced together a sharp first half: 13 of 19 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Though Steelers rookie Beanie Bishop would snag a late interception, the veteran QB had carved up Pittsburgh’s defense. The offensive line’s stability played a key role in that success.

Meanwhile, the Jets listed Vera-Tucker as “questionable to return,” but his early exit to the locker room sent warning signals through the stadium. Xavier Newman-Johnson inherited guard duties with New York clinging to a 15-13 lead, stepping into a game that had turned into an old-school AFC slugfest.

Newman-Johnson faces trial by fire

The backup guard walked into a pressure cooker. Neither offense had found its full stride – Pittsburgh managed 182 yards on 31 plays while the Jets answered with 173 yards on 29 plays. Every block would matter in this tight contest.

His first mission? Maintain the protection wall around Rodgers. The Jets’ passing attack had shown versatility despite Adams’ modest debut numbers in the first half (3 catches, 30 yards on 6 targets). That balance kept Pittsburgh’s defense honest and gave New York’s skill players room to operate.

Across the field, Wilson’s Steelers debut mixed brilliance with rust. After leading a scoring drive to open the game, the new Pittsburgh QB struggled to find rhythm, completing just 8 of 17 passes for 145 yards as of halftime. A touchdown strike to George Pickens offered hope, but a running game that generated only 41 yards on 13 carries left Wilson searching for answers.

The second half loomed with burning questions. Could Newman-Johnson fill Vera-Tucker’s shoes? Would the injured starter return? In a prime-time clash loaded with star power, an unexpected injury threatened to steal the spotlight and possibly reshape both teams’ fortunes.