Smith, who turns 34 on Dec. 12, last played on Nov. 10, when he injured his neck in a blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Neither Smith nor the Jets have revealed the exact nature of the injury, but it became clear in recent days that he was headed to injured reserve.
He is eligible to return for the final two games, but there is virtually no chance of doing so given the injury and the likelihood that the Jets (3-8) will be eliminated.
“There’s not enough improvement right now, and it’s really become apparent that maybe we have to do what’s best for Tyron,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Wednesday, strongly suggesting Smith was destined for IR.
The former Dallas Cowboys star is one of the most decorated offensive linemen in the NFL: eight Pro Bowls and two first-team All Pro selections. He was also named by the Pro Football Hall of Fame to the All-2010 team. Without a doubt, he is a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame.
Smith started the first 10 games for the Jets, protecting the blind side of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He didn’t play up to his standard, committing an unusually high number of penalties (six total, including three accepted) and allowing six sacks, according to Next Gen Stats.
The Jets signed Smith to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, hoping he could overcome his recent spate of injuries to galvanize the offensive line. They hedged their bet by using a first-round pick on Olu Fashanu, who will make his third straight start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at MetLife Stadium.
To keep Smith healthy, the Jets put him on a strict maintenance program that limited his practice time. It seemed to work, as he played every snap for the first nine games. Then came the neck injury in Week 10.
The injury will be costly for Smith, whose deal was loaded with playing time incentives. He could have made an additional $12 million by playing on 98% of the snaps. Right now it projects 64%, which would mean a bonus of $4.75 million.
The Cowboys drafted him No. 9 in 2011 and he became an instant starter. After 13 seasons, they let him walk in free agency. Smith didn’t generate much interest on the open market, likely due to his injury history. He missed 37 games between 2020 and 2023. The Jets took a chance, thinking he would be a one-year fix and an upgrade over previous left tackle Mekhi Becton.
At training camp, Smith was asked how long he wanted to play.
“As long as it takes, honestly,” he said. “I keep going until I can’t anymore.”
To replace Smith, the Jets activated guard Xavier Newsman from injured reserve. They also elevated running back Kene Nwangwu from the practice squad.
