Jets Return Week 12 Starter to Practice Squad, Move Tanzel Smart to Injured Reserve

After being cut last week, OL depth piece returns to New York

The New York Jets welcomed an interior offensive lineman back to the organization on Tuesday.

In addition to replacing quarterback Tim Boyle with Brett Rypien on the 53-man roster, the Jets made two adjustments to the Practice Squad. The team announced the signing of Xavier Newman to a P-Squad contract after having released the backup guard from the active roster prior to the Week 13 home game against Atlanta.

The Jets also moved veteran defensive tackle Tanzel Smart to Practice Squad Injured Reserve. The 29-year-old Smart, who has served multiple P-Squad stints with the Jets over the past four seasons, appeared in four regular season games this fall. He made two tackles over 63 defensive snaps.

Newman, who also provides an emergency option at center, initially joined the organization in early October as a Practice Squad player. He reached his limit of three gameday elevations and was subsequently signed to the active roster prior to the Week 12 matchup with Miami. Newman made the start at right guard, logging all 58 offensive snaps in a 34-13 loss to the Dolphins on Black Friday. 

After playing three games for the Tennessee Titans this season prior to landing with New York, the 24-year-old Newman was first called into action against the New York Giants in Week 8. He entered the game at right guard and finished it as the center. Newman has totaled 170 offensive snaps for the Green & White's injury-ravaged offensive line.

The Jets are re-adding Newman to a Practice Squad that also features offensive linemen Rodger Saffold, Jake Hanson and Chris Glaser. 

Meanwhile, Smart is the second defensive tackle that the Jets' Practice Squad has lost to injury this week. Making his Gang Green debut as a gameday elevation, Perrion Winfrey suffered a severe foot injury while defending a Falcons' field goal attempt on December 3. He was carted off the field and has been subsequently placed onto IR.

The Jets re-signed defensive tackle Bruce Hector to the P-Squad on Monday, December 4. Hector, who initially entered the league undrafted in 2018, signed with New York in August after a stint in the XFL.

Hector and Marquiss Spencer are the lone remaining defensive tackles available on the Practice Squad. The Jets were already short-handed at the position, carrying only three interior defensive linemen on the active roster.

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Jets' Practice Squad (December 5)

CB Kalon Barnes

CB Anthony Brown

S Trey Dean

OL Chris Glaser

OL Jake Hanson

CB Tae Hayes 

DT Bruce Hector 

DL Jalyn Holmes

CB Craig James 

TE Zack Kuntz

LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

WR Lance McCutcheon

OL Rodger Saffold

DT Marquiss Spencer

WR Malik Taylor

RB Xazavian Valladay

Jets Lose Two Players to Injured Reserve in Loss to Atlanta

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