The New York Jets have bolstered their defense with a new addition.
Gang Green announced on social media that they have signed defensive back Keidron Smith off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. In a corresponding roster move, the Jets placed veteran Isaiah Oliver on injured reserve.
With only three games left in the 2025 regular season, Oliver’s season is now officially over.
Some Conflicting News for Smith
Smith, 26, woke up this morning as a member of the No. 1-seeded Broncos, who have the best record in football at 12-2.
However, he will be going to sleep tonight as a new member of the 3-11 Jets, who have one of the worst records in football.
From the playoffs to the longest postseason drought in North American sports.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it, a famous person once said.
This is probably conflicting news for Smith because in Denver, he was on the practice squad. With the Jets, he will be on their 53-man roster, which is not only a bump up in pay but very likely a bump up in playing time as well.
Smith entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He started his career with the Miami Dolphins, but was dumped ahead of final roster cuts.
After clearing waivers, he joined the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. After spending a month there, Smith was waived again.
The former Ole Miss and Kentucky product had found a home with the Broncos, where he has spent the last two and a half seasons.
“He made the team’s initial 53-man roster in 2024 and appeared in 9 games, playing 122 special teams snaps and 16 defensive snaps,” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
Injuries Starting to Pile up in the Secondary
Losing Oliver for the season is a bigger injury blow than most realize.
Oliver is a versatile Swiss Army knife that has played snaps at safety, slot corner, and boundary corner.
Having that level of versatility is always welcome, but it was especially important to a Jets secondary that has been ravaged by injuries all season.
In no particular order, the Jets have lost: Sauce Gardner (trade), Andre Cisco (injury), Jarvis Brownlee Jr (injury), Azareye’h Thomas (injury), Kris Boyd (injury), and now Oliver.
Whenever the secondary was forced to shuffle, the Jets relied on Oliver to jump in where he was needed. Now that will no longer be an option for the final three games of the season.
“Oliver (6-0, 202) sustained a knee injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars and did not return to the game. Originally signed by the Jets in March 2024, Oliver has appeared in 31 games (9 starts) during two seasons with the Green & White. He has appeared in all 14 games this season (2 starts), playing 300 special teams snaps and 322 defensive snaps while recording 55 total tackles and 3 pass defenses,” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
Complicating matters will be a coaching change.
On Monday, December 15, head coach Aaron Glenn announced that Steve Wilks has been relieved as the defensive coordinator. Assistant coach Chris Harris will now take over play-calling duties for the final three games of the year.
Jets Steal Broncos DB in First Move Before Saints Game, Lose Veteran for Season