What a player! In his first NFL start, rookie LT Carter Warren of the Jets displays guts.

Due to injuries, the young starting O-line is still gaining experience.

In a 34-13 loss to the Dolphins on Friday, the Jets used their eighth offensive line configuration, with fourth-round pick Carter Warren starting at left tackle for the first time.

Following Mekhi Becton’s ankle injury last Sunday, Warren, who began the season on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury he sustained in the Hall of Fame game in August, was reinstated in Week 6 (October 14). Warren played 49 plays at left tackle last Sunday.

“I feel like I played a lot better than last week,” Warren stated. “It was fantastic, and I really enjoyed being outside. Although I would have preferred a somewhat different result, you simply have to keep working hard and getting better.”

Laken Tomlinson, LG, continued, “The child is brave. He’s a bright young man. It’s pretty amazing, man, to have your first appearance be as it was last week and then make your debut on a short week. The child has been following his plan and making improvements. Very pleased with him.”

Warren felt ready for his difficult assignment in his first start, lining up against Miami’s starting pass rushers, two-time Pro Bowler Bradley Chubb (6 sacks) and rising star Jaelan Phillips (5.5 sacks). Warren had lined up against the Jets defensive line throughout practice.

“Jermaine [Johnson] got me good during the summer,” Warren said. “He gave me a straight bull rush and I just told myself, welcome to the show. But in the regular season there hasn’t been anything like that. I just keep moving.”

HC After his spontaneous performance at Buffalo, Robert Saleh described the Jets’ fourth-round selection (No. 120) out of Pittsburgh as a “pleasant surprise,” especially since he had extra time to prepare for Miami.

For the past three months, Warren has relied on Tomlinson, Becton, and former All-Pro LT Duane Brown to bring him up to speed.

“We had a week of preparation and I got to talk to Lake a little bit more and just learn a lot more of his different calls and improve out communication,” Warren explained. “It was different and definitely better.”

“Their message was really just to keep my individuality,” he continued. They told me that I was quite knowledgeable about football and that I had received many helpful hints from them. Overall though, they advised “keep doing me.”