The Jets have had a tough season. With the team struggling on 3-8, hopes of their return to the Super Bowl have gone down the drain. And things continue to look grim ahead of the Seahawks game this Sunday, with another unsettling news doing the rounds.

Amid all the uncertainties in the franchise, they’ll have to enter the ground without their left tackle Tyron Smith. His absence is not just a blow to the team’s game plan but also raises questions about his future in the NFL. Jets fans, already on edge, want answers: Why is Smith out, and what’s the impact of his sidelining?

The injury that changed the Jets’ O-Line

Tyron Smith is on IR. NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news on X. He sustained his neck injury in Week 10 against the Cardinals, leaving a gaping hole in the Jets’ offensive line. The injury, which now looks pretty serious, kept him out of the Week 11 matchup with the Colts. And now, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich has confirmed, that Smith was “definitely becoming an IR candidate” for the matchup against the Seahawks. His neck has apparently not responded to treatment. Though specifics of the injury remain under wraps. But Smith had shown promise.

Playing 592 offensive snaps this season with an overall player grade of 73.6, Smith was transitioning well into the new setup. His absence isn’t just going to be a lineup adjustment—it’s a tactical setback for the team. The Jets, already struggling with quarterback protection (and some erratic decisions from the management), now lose a Hall-of-Fame-caliber blocker. Smith, an 8 time Pro Bowler, anchored the line for years with Dallas and started 161 games for them before joining the Jets this offseason. However, his durability issues have always loomed.

Smith missed at least three games annually since 2015. To make things worse, over his final 2 years at Dallas, he was unavailable in half of the possible 34 regular season games. But, if not Smith, who?

It’s first-round rookie Olu Fashanu. In week 9, he was inserted into the lineup at RG against Houston and logged 37 snaps to help the team to a 21-13 win. While promising, he’s of course no Tyron Smith. The Jets’ game plan against Seattle, a team boasting a formidable defense led by Derick Hall and Boye Mafe, would need to adapt significantly. Will the rookie rise, or will the Jets’ offense crumble? And what are the possible financial implications of this?

How will this injury impact Tyron financially?

Smith’s tenure with the Jets started with high hopes, signing a one-year, $6.5 million deal. Unfortunately, his time in New York might end without a postseason appearance. Smith’s move to IR isn’t just a physical setback; it has key financial implications too. His contract, laden with incentives tied to playing time, Pro Bowl appearances, and playoff wins, could’ve reached $20 million. With IR placement, much of that potential payout disappears.

The Jets, however, might view this as a silver lining. They’ve freed cap space while evaluating rookie talent like Olu Fashanu. But does this signal a shift toward building a younger, more durable offensive line? The franchise invested the No. 11 overall pick in Fashanu for a reason—perhaps Smith’s injury expedites this transition.

For 34-year-old Smith, it’s another chapter in a storied career marred by injury. As the Jets navigate their financial and roster implications, fans are left wondering if Smith’s exit marks the end of an era or perhaps the start of something new.