Tyron Smith placed on IR, likely ending year and maybe Jets career

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets left tackle Tyron Smith was placed on injured reserve Saturday, likely ending his season and, quite possibly, his illustrious career.

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 disclosed the exact nature of the injury, but it became apparent in recent days that he was headed to injured reserve.

He's eligible to return for the final two games, but there's virtually no chance of that given the injury and the likelihood of the Jets (3-8) being eliminated.

"There's not enough improvement at this point, and it's really become apparent that we might 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 also was named by the Pro Football Hall of Fame to the All-2010s team. Without question, he's 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 consecutive 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 through 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've earned an additional $12 million by playing in 98% of the snaps. Right now, he projects at 64%, which would mean a $4.75 million bonus.

The Cowboys drafted him at 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, probably because of his injury history. He missed 37 games from 2020 to 2023. The Jets took a chance, figuring he'd be a one-year solution and an upgrade over the previous left tackle, Mekhi Becton.

In 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 go no more."

To replace Smith, the Jets activated guard Xavier Newsman from injured reserve. They also elevated running back Kene Nwangwu from the practice squad.