Jets Officially Place Three on Injured Reserve, Sign 'Hard Knocks' Star to Active Roster

Tanzel Smart and Dennis Kelly bumped up while offensive guard and defensive end join Practice Squad

The New York Jets did not pull off a trade on Tuesday, but they were still active on the transactions wire.

The Jets sent three players — two interior offensive linemen and one defensive tackle — to Injured Reserve and signed a pair of Practice Squad members to the 53-man roster.

Carrying through with the intentions reported by head coach Robert Saleh on Monday, Gang Green placed an IR tag on defensive tackle Al Woods, starting center Connor McGovern and backup guard Wes Schweitzer. 

All three men suffered injuries during the first half of the Jets' 13-10 overtime win over the New York Giants on October 29. After tearing his Achilles, Woods is out for the remainder of the season. McGovern and Schweitzer, however, are candidates to return later this year, according to Saleh.

Replenishing the active roster, the Green & White lifted "Hard Knocks" fan favorite Tanzel Smart off the Practice Squad along with offensive tackle Dennis Kelly.

Subsequently filling the two vacated PS spots, the team signed offensive guard Rodger Saffold and defensive end Jalyn Holmes to the 16-man unit.

Smart, who has been in the NFL since 2017, returns to the Jets' 53-man roster for the first time since 2022 when he played in three games. The 28-year-old Smart has spent three-plus seasons on the team's Practice Squad and gained notoriety through his appearances on HBO's Hard Knocks this past summer. 

Kelly finds himself on the active roster after signing to the Practice Squad on October 11. The 6-foot-8 offensive tackle is an NFL journey man with 130 career appearances, including 54 starts, on his résumé. He played 16 games for the Indianapolis Colts last year before spending the 2023 preseason with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Saffold, who owns 173 career regular season starts, will begin his Jets' tenure on the Practice Squad but seems destined for the active roster following an initial acclimation period. The 35-year-old, who made 16 starts for the Buffalo Bills in 2022, has familiarity with Jets' offensive line coach Keith Carter from their time together as Tennessee Titans. 

"Obviously, Rodger's an experienced guy that's played a lot of games. I think he's gonna be a really good acquisition for us," said Jets' general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday afternoon following the NFL trade deadline. 

Holmes returns to the Jets' Practice Squad after temporarily losing his spot on October 11. The 2018 fourth-round draft pick initially joined the team on August 14. He made 2.0 sacks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Jets' third preseason game. Holmes, who began his career with the Minnesota Vikings, played in one game for the Chicago Bears last year. 

'Hard Knocks' Star Tanzel Smart Returns to Jets

Jets' Practice Squad (Updated Oct. 31)

CB Kalon Barnes

S Trey Dean

CB Tae Hayes 

DL Jalyn Holmes

CB Craig James

TE Zack Kuntz

LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

WR Lance McCutcheon

OL Xavier Newman

OL Jason Poe

OL Rodger Saffold 

QB Trevor Siemian

DE Elerson Smith

DL Marquiss Spencer

WR Malik Taylor

RB Xazavian Valladay

READ MORE:

Jets Lose Starting Offensive Linemen vs. Giants, Down to Practice Squad Center

Jets Viewed as 'Buyers' Prior to NFL Trade Deadline

Jets' Offensive Problems Persist in One Particular Category

Jets' Defensive Tackle Tears Achilles vs. Giants