Injuries continued to intervene during Tyron Smith‘s lengthy second Cowboys contract, playing a central role in why he remained attached to an eight-year deal over its duration. While the accomplished left tackle has been generally available for the Jets, that appears likely to change soon.
Interim Jets HC Jeff Ulbrich said Smith’s neck injury is not healing like the team hoped, calling him (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) “definitely becoming” an IR candidate. Smith has missed only one game this season, marking a better attendance rate than he usually produces. With the Jets disappointing this season, it would make sense if Smith was ultimately shelved.
Smith, 33, went down during the Jets’ Week 10 loss to the Cardinals and missed their Week 11 contest. The former Cowboys staple has missed 49 games since the start of the 2016 season. IR stays have not been too common for Smith, who has fought through nagging injuries for the most part. That said, Smith did miss most of the 2020 and ’22 seasons. The first of those extended IR stints came about because of a neck injury.
After playing two games for the Cowboys in 2020, Smith ended up needing neck surgery. He did return in time for the 2021 slate, a Pro Bowl season, and also bounced back from his 2022 hamstring injury to earn second-team All-Pro acclaim last season. But Smith has run into steady trouble on the injury front, affecting his value on this year’s market.
Then-Jets GM Joe Douglas was surprised Smith accepted a one-year, $6.5MM offer to become New York’s left tackle. He has excelled in the run game with New York, rating first in pass block win rate. He has also been charged with five sacks allowed during his 14th NFL season. With the Jets set to reboot (most likely without Aaron Rodgers) in 2025, it would appear Smith will also need to look for a new home.
As Smith moves closer to another free agency run, an IR stay would stand to hurt both his present and future values. Due to the injury past, the Jets designed a contract based largely on playing time-based incentives. Smith has cleared the first hurdle here (a 38% offensive snap share) and has done well to earn $1MM escalators for hitting the 44% and 50% snap thresholds this season. Smith can earn $1MM more by reaching the 56%, 62%, 68%, 74%, 80%, 86% and 92% benchmarks. An IR stay would restrict him from entering the upper reaches of this tiered structure while also likely giving 2025 suitors pause.
The 2011 first-round pick is likely on his way to the Hall of Fame, but the run of injuries also could prompt him to consider walking away a bit sooner than expected. Before this year’s incentives are factored in, Smith has earned more than $131MM during his career.