FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets wide receiver Arian Smith is out for the season after needing surgery to repair a torn ACL in one of his knees.
Smith, a fourth-round pick in last year's draft, was placed on the injured reserve list Tuesday and coach Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday that the speedy receiver will not return this season.
“Tough,” Glenn said. “But he'll bounce back very well.”
Defensive tackle David Onyemata will be sidelined several
weeks after Glenn said he had core muscle surgery. Onyemata, also on IR, could return before the end of the season, according to Glenn.
Both players were injured in the Jets' 20-17 overtime loss to Green Bay last Sunday.
Smith had no catches in the first two games and had just one target — a dropped pass in the opener at Tennessee. He struggled with consistency as a rookie last season, finishing with just seven catches for 52 yards on 16 targets in 16 games.
The former Georgia standout, who had issues with drops at times in college, has outstanding speed and was considered a potential vertical threat for Frank Reich's offense.
The Jets signed undrafted rookie Malik McClain from the practice squad to help fill Smith's role.
Onyemata signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Jets in March, reuniting him Glenn. The two were together in New Orleans from 2016 through the 2020 seasons when Glenn was the Saints' defensive backs coach.
The 34-year-old Onyemata had yet to make much of an impact for New York, registering a quarterback hit and no tackles in the first two games. His absence will likely mean increased snaps for Jowon Briggs and rookie fourth-rounder Darrell Jackson Jr. on the D-line.
The Jets (1-1) are dealing with several other injuries as they prepare to face the Lions (1-1) in Detroit on Sunday.
Tight end Mason Taylor (thumb), safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin), linebacker Kiko Mauigoa (quadriceps) and running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu (back) were all expected to sit out practice, Glenn said.
Taylor was injured late in the loss to the Packers, but Glenn insisted “he'll be just fine.”
Edge rusher Joseph Ossai is still recovering from a ruptured plantar fascia in his left foot suffered during the preseason finale against the Giants on Aug. 28. He was being listed as limited at practice Wednesday.
“Very close,” Glenn said of Ossai's chances of making his Jets debut. “So we’ll see how that actually operates during the week.”
Rookie edge rusher David Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick in April who has a sack in each of his first two NFL games, was also expected to be limited with an elbow ailment that Glenn wasn't concerned about.
Former Titans quarterback Will Levis practiced with the Jets for the first time since being signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old Levis was released by the Titans last month and is working behind starter Geno Smith and rookie Cade Kubnik, a fourth-rounder, as the third-string quarterback.
“A good player that we feel like we can develop,” Glenn said. “He’ll be on our practice squad, he’ll get reps against our defense.”
Levis went 5-16 as a starter in Tennessee with 3,899 yards passing, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions after being a second-round pick in 2023.
“It’s a good move to get a player like that,” Glenn said, “to be a part of what we’re trying to build.”
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