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Devin Smith’s rookie season ends with torn ACL

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 13: Devin Smith #19 of the New York Jets is carted off of the field after an injury in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 13, 2015 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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The Jets didn’t have to sweat too much on their way to a 30-8 victory over the Titans that kept them in the thick of the Wild Card race, but there was some bad news coming out of the win.

Rookie wide receiver Devin Smith injured his right knee while covering a punt in the third quarter and wasn’t able to put weight on it before being loaded onto a cart to make the trip back to the locker room at MetLife Stadium. It didn’t look good and coach Todd Bowles confirmed Monday that Smith suffered a torn ACL that will end his season.

The second-round pick had some issues making the transition to the NFL, but caught his first touchdown in Week 12 and Bowles said Monday that the injury came just as Smith was rounding into form.

"[Smith] was grasping everything mentally and was playing faster...it’s unfortunate that this happened because he came around,” Bowles said.

Smith’s progress hadn’t sped up to the point that he’s an irreplaceable piece for the Jets offense, but Jeremy Kerley suffered a calf injury on Sunday that could impact his availability for Saturday night’s game against the Cowboys. If he’s out, the Jets will be thin at wideout behind Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.