Jets Place WR Rishard Matthews On Injured Reserve

The New York Jets have placed wide receiver Rishard Matthews on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury, ending his 2018 season and in all likelihood, his Jets tenure. Matthews, a veteran with a decent NFL track record, was signed after the Jets cut Terrelle Pryor mid-season, but Matthews never could find a role with the Jets. He finished the season with just two catches on three targets in five games.

The Jets replaced Rishard Matthews on the 53 man roster by signing 23 year old offensive lineman Eric Smith off of the New England Patriots practice squad. The 6’ 4”, 308 pound Smith was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Virginia in 2017. Smith spent his entire first year and his second off season with Miami, though he never appeared in a regular season game. Smith was cut by the Dolphins just prior to the start of the 2018 season and the Patriots then signed him to their practice squad, where he spent the entire 2018 season until signed by the Jets today.

In eight preseason games with Miami, including two starts, Eric Smith struggled, giving up two sacks and incurring three penalties. Smith was used at both tackle positions by the Dolphins. In college he was primarily a right tackle.