Arian Smith injury could leave the Jets with only 3 healthy wide receivers

The New York Jets have been decimated by injuries at the wide receiver position. Luckily, they still have their two top guys healthy, Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, but the players behind them are dropping like flies.

Veteran Tim Patrick was placed on injured reserve due to a groin injury right before the season kicked off against the Tennessee Titans, and rookie Omar Cooper Jr. suffered a high ankle sprain that will keep him on injured reserve for at least the next three games.

The Jets went into Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers with four healthy wide receivers: Wilson, Mitchell, Isaiah Williams, and Arian Smith. It appears they didn't come out unscathed from the 20-17 overtime loss.

Smith, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini, is set to miss time with a knee injury suffered in the loss to the Green Bay Packers. If he finds his way to injured reserve, that would leave the Jets with only three healthy wide receivers on the 53-man roster.

New York Jets will have no choice but to elevate their new veteran wide receivers

Luckily, the Jets seem somewhat prepared for this. They made two veteran wide receiver additions to their practice squad last week, and they may end up seeing some action this weekend when they travel to Aaron Glenn's old stomping grounds to face the Detroit Lions.

The most high-profile signing was longtime New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard. The 10-year veteran has over 117 games of NFL experience under his belt and should be able to step in and help fill the void Cooper left behind in the slot.

Shepard was most recently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his old college quarterback, Baker Mayfield. He hauled in 39 receptions for 371 yards and a touchdown in 2025.

Tyler Johnson, who was with the Jets in 2025, was brought back into the fold after the injuries began to pop up. The former fifth-round draft pick appeared in 12 games and caught 12 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown.

Arian Smith's disappointing New York Jets tenure

Smith's injury is just the latest chapter in what has been an incredibly underwhelming start to his time in New York. The 2025 fourth-round draft pick hasn't been able to make an impact offensively and has now become a liability on special teams.

The former Georgia Bulldog was in the spotlight this past Sunday, when a whiffed tackle on a punt return led to a 60-yard scamper from Packers returner Skyy Moore. It set Green Bay up with a game-tying field goal that would eventually send the game to overtime.

Maybe some time off is exactly what Smith needs to get his mind right and figure out what he's missing from his game and preventing him from becoming a weekly contributor for the Jets.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow