Tyron

Smith

Smith, who played right tackle in college at USC before flipping to the left side in the pros, retires with a borderline Hall of Fame resume. He was named to the Hall of Fame’s All-2010s team and finished first-team All-Pro twice along with three placements on the second team. Smith was especially dominant over a 2013-2016 peak wherein he finished with an 85.9 PFF grade or higher in all four seasons. Injuries slowed him in his later years, including in a 10-game stint with the Jets that concluded with him on injured reserve with a neck injury in 2024. He’ll sign a one-day contract to retire as a Cowboy.

Tyron Smith will be eligible to return in Week 17, though the Jets are all but certain to be eliminated from the playoffs at that time, so this may be the last we’ve seen of Smith in a Jets uniform. Smith signed a one-year deal with the Jets in the offseason. Pro Football Focus graded him as a plus blocker in both the pass and run game, but will fail to come close to playing a full season once again. Smith last played more than 13 games in 2015 and has only hit 13 once in the past five years. The former Cowboy will have plenty of suitors on the open market, but his injury woes will limit him to another short-term deal.

Smith’s neck isn’t improving at the rate the Jets had hoped. It would not at all be surprising if the Jets placed the veteran on IR considering their lack of anything to play for this year, they might as well see what Olu Fashanu can be at left tackle. So far, so good on that front, as the rookie has played better at his natural position against the Cardinals and Colts in New York’s last two games.

Injured reserve is a possibility for Smith, who didn’t practice all week and was declared out on Friday. Mosley (neck) also may be looking at an injured reserve spot at some point, he missed every practice this week. Hanson is dealing with a hamstring and didn’t practice this week. The other three players are healthy scratches.

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said injured reserve is a possibility for the veteran left tackle. The team still needs to gather more info to be sure. Typically, when injured reserve is a possibility, it’s an inevitability. The Jets will do their due diligence before coming to a decision, but we don’t expect to see Smith on the field anytime soon. No. 11 overall pick Olu Fashanu is likely the next man up for Week 11 versus the Colts at least.

The 33-year-old veteran had played every snap this season for the Jets until injuring his neck against the Cardinals. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, the 11th overall pick, replaced him in the lineup and would seem to be the next man up against the Colts in Week 11 if Smith’s injury is serious.

The Jets’ offensive line health was on the upswing entering Week 10 but a neck injury suffered by their star left tackle is a brutal development. Hopefully, it is not serious and he is available against the Colts next week. Smith dealt with a neck injury in 2023 and 2020 as well.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the deal is worth “up to” 20 million. The eight-time Pro Bowl nominee has spent the entirety of his 13-year career in Dallas. His departure marks the end of an era for the Cowboys. After losing Aaron Rodgers to a torn Achilles’ tendon four plays into the year, the Jets had to upgrade their offensive line before the start of the 2024 season. Smith is a great addition for the Jets, but the concern will be his health. The last time he played a full season was all the way back in 2015. He has appeared in just 30 regular season games over the past four years. Still, Pro Football Focus graded him as their No. 4 tackle in 2023. He was active for 13 games. Going all in on the few years left in the tank for Rodgers, it’s easy to see why the Jets are taking a shot on Smith.

The Cowboys selected Smith with the No. 9 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The former USC Trojan has paid off in a big way for the Cowboys over the last 13 seasons, earning eight Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro recognitions in his decorated career. Injuries have plagued Smith since 2016, as he’s yet to appear in more than 13 games over the last eight seasons. When healthy, Smith remains one of the best blindside blockers in the league, earning a PFF pass block grade of 88.6 last season. Smith will be 33-years-old at the start of next season, and should have a healthy market for teams interested in teams shoring up the left side of their offensive line.

Smith missed Week 16 with a thigh injury and is now listed with a back injury. The Cowboys play a Saturday game, so Smith has a few days to practice and return as a key piece for the offensive line. DT Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle) also did not practice, potentially leaving the Cowboys without a pair of key contributors in the trenches against the Lions.