The Jets aren’t playing many of their starters or the personal protector on their punt team on Thursday night in Philadelphia, but they are playing the tackle they acquired in a trade with the Rams this week.
Jason Smith started at left tackle for the Jets in their preseason finale. Austin Howard, who took the right tackle job away from Wayne Hunter before this week’s trade, is getting some extra work in on the right side while the rest of the first-team offense has the night off. Howard got beaten by Brandon Graham for a sack on the first Jets possession.
Smith is ticketed for a backup tackle/blocking tight end role with the Jets, so it makes sense that the team would get him some work on the left side even though he’d been on the right side in St. Louis. Given the lack of other time to see Smith in game situations before the regular season, he’ll probably see some time on that side as well.
Smith’s addition wasn’t enough to end the Jets’ touchdown-less preseason. They punted the ball away after a short drive stalled.