The New York Jets have claimed former Minnesota Viking Pat Elflein, who was released from his NFC North squad on Saturday.
We've claimed OL Pat Elflein.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 16, 2020
The New York Jets have called for reinforcement to their offensive line as they return from their bye week, claiming veteran blocker Pat Elflein off the waivers list.
Elflein, 26, has worked as a center and guard on both sides. The interior lineman was chosen in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings (70th overall). He went on to partake in 44 games with Minnesota, starting all but one, though injuries have reduced him to a single game this season, starting at right guard and sharing snapping duties with Garrett Bradbury in the Vikings’ opening weekend loss to Green Bay.
A thumb injury suffered in practice has since kept him sidelined. Elflein was placed on injured reserve short after the ailment. He was activated last Friday but was placed on waivers the next day.
The Jets (0-9) are currently working with offseason free agents signees veterans Connor McGovern and Josh Andrews at center while Alex Lewis and Greg Van Roten respectively flank the left and right interior roles. Their offense is coming off a season-high output of 322 yards in their last tilt, a 30-27 last-second defeat last Monday night against the New England Patriots. The latest defeat came with a bit of a hefty casualty on the offensive line, as starting tackle and first-round pick Mekhi Becton left in the first half with a chest injury and did not return.
New York will once again roll out Joe Flacco at quarterback in their next contest on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS) as head coach Adam Gase said that Sam Darnold was still nursing a shoulder injury, per notes provided by the team.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags