The big unknown that is Devin Smith

With organized team activities underway for the New York Jets, wide receiver Devin Smith is, unfortunately, unable to participate and likely on the roster bubble entering his third season in the pros.

It’s a shame what has happened with wide receiver Devin Smith as he transitioned to the pros back in the 2015 NFL Draft. A second-round pick out of Ohio State, Smith has been dealing with nothing but injuries with the Jets to the point that many fans likely forgot he’s still on the team.

He’s been spending most of his NFL career on the injured-reserve list due to not one but two torn ACL injuries that have kept him on the sideline over the past few years. So far in his tenure with the Jets, Smith has only totaled 135 receiving yards, 10 receptions, and just one touchdown.

When the Jets selected him, they were hoping they would get that speedy Ohio State wide receiver that made a name for himself as a big playmaking machine. Smith was known for making big 3rd down conversions and excelled during key moments of a football game.

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Now? The Jets can only hope he’s fully recovered from his torn ACL injury and can actually compete in training camp for a final roster spot. It’s no secret that the Jets stocked up big time this offseason at wide receiver as it’s a crowded situation that doesn’t bode well for him.

The writing could be on the wall for Smith since even head coach Todd Bowles knows that he’s a big unknown at this point in time. Courtesy of the Media Relations Department of the Jets, here is what Bowles had to say about Smith and his current synopsis of the situation since he’s still out due to injuries:

That makes him a big unknown. He’s injured, and there’s not much he can show when he’s injured. Obviously, he has had some serious injuries. (It’s) not his fault. Sometimes things like that happen. Until he gets out on the field, it is going to be an unknown. First and foremost, he has to get healthy and then we’ll judge him if he can get on the field.

Hopefully, Smith can return to form and give the Jets a reason to keep him around for the future. If he’s still not able to suit up and compete, he’ll likely be a training camp casualty. For now, the big unknown that is Smith is on the outside looking in. He’ll likely be another story of a promising young wide receiver that will, unfortunately, be remembered for being injury prone and unable to consistently stay healthy throughout his pro career.