Jets Left Tackle Fashanu Looks to Rebound Before Sunday’s Game in Chicago

Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu is working to put a rough outing behind him before his team travels to Chicago to face the Bears on Sunday.

Fashanu played 66 snaps in last week’s 31-24 loss to the Lions in Detroit, but it was three of those snaps — in which he gave up 2.5 sacks — that drew the most attention afterward. The 23-year-old has faced criticism from fans and media this week, but says he isn’t rattled by it.

“That’s the reality of being an O-lineman,” Fashanu said. “At the end of the day, every player strives to be perfect. In the NFL, you’re going against guys on the other side that are pretty good, too. Games like that are going to happen. I feel like it’s really on yourself to remember who you are, fall back on your training, fall back to the guys in your room and just keep going.”

Fashanu is part of an offensive line that was expected to be one of the team’s strengths this season. That held true in Week 1 against the Titans, but both the run game and pass protection have slipped over the last two weeks.

“For myself, it’s just bouncing back,” Fashanu said. “Last week, I didn’t have a good game, obviously. I know that my job in pass protection is to keep Geno [Smith] clean and healthy. I didn’t do that last week. For myself, it’s just remembering who I am, just focusing on my technique, being dialed in to the snap count and all that and just doing everything possible to keep Geno clean.”

Fashanu said the offensive line has spent the week reviewing film together to figure out what has gone wrong the past two games.

“Getting our mojo back, getting back to that same mentality we had in the Tennessee game,” Fashanu said of the line’s focus this week. “At the end of the day, we know our ability and we know that these last two weeks haven’t been the best for our O-line. This week was all about getting prepared for Chicago and focusing on ourselves.”

Ahead of the game in Chicago, the Jets elevated wide receiver Sterling Shepard from the practice squad for the second consecutive week. The team also elevated linebacker Jaden Keller.