Jets Rumors: Devin Smith Questionable For Week 1
New York Jets rumors are not great for second year wide receiver Devin Smith, whose status looks to be in question for the beginning of the season.
Recent New York Jets rumors have dried up with the 2016 NFL Draft being in the past and trade talks slowing down. Now the focus will turn to the 2016 season, as the Jets will begin evaluating their roster and seeing who could make an impact not only for this season, but be a building block for the future. One of those players the Jets were hoping to be a contributor this season and into the future was Devin Smith, but they are not sure what they will be getting from him in the early going.
Last season’s second pick, Smith failed to impress with the Jets. They were hoping that he would bring a deep threat to the team, someone that could stretch the field next to Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall. That never came to fruition, as Smith’s vertical style of play was not a good match for the offense that Ryan Fitzpatrick was comfortable and capable of operating in.
With the differing styles, it was imperative that the two would work together throughout the offseason and training camp, but that never happened as Smith got hurt in his first practice. He took a hard shot to the ribs, breaking multiple ones and puncturing his lung as well. As a result he missed all of the preseason, losing valuable practice time that a rookie will never get back.
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Smith eventually made his debut in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles as he had to get up to speed with the playbook and conditioning. He would play that game and four more before injuring his ankle in practice and missing Week 8 against the Oakland Raiders. Smith would play in six more games after that before his season was ended against the Tennessee Titans as he tore his ACL while returning a punt.
It ended what was a brutal rookie campaign for Smith, as he was inefficient catching only nine of 28 targets for 115 yards and one touchdown. He also fumbled his only kickoff attempt of the season against the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 and had a critical drop against the Houston Texans the following week, both playing a hand in losses that ultimately kept the Jets out of the postseason.
Smith really could have used a full offseason to get up to speed and back on track, but he will not be afforded that luxury. Smith is only five months removed from his ACL surgery right now, and will be nine months removed once the season starts. That is usually the bare minimum of what an ACL recovery is, as the normal timetable is 9-12 months.
Because of that, ESPN New York’s Rich Cimini says that Week 1 for Smith ‘may be pushing it.’ If he is not showing improvement, there is a chance that the Jets could place him on the PUP list so he can continue his recovery and rehab. With the three and four receiver sets that the Jets like to use under Chan Gailey, Smith could have had a role but he has been unable to shake the injury bug and get on the field consistently.
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The Jets are lacking any real depth or talent behind Decker and Marshall, and Smith being as questionable as he is does not help that problem. The Jets have some interesting options in rookie Charone Peake and Kenbrell Thompkins, but the Jets will rely heavily on the Decker and Marshall duo once again, at least until Smith returns.