Heading into their idle Sunday in Week 4, the Jets have opted to bolster their receiving core, signing WR Vyncint Smith to the active roster off the Houston Texans' practice squad. In doing so, New York released QB David Fales.
The second-year pro out of Limestone College went undrafted in 2018 and signed with the Texans thereafter, making his NFL debut in Week 1 last season against the New England Patriots. Smith played seven games for Houston, which included one start and ended the season with five receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown.
Smith spent the past summer with the Texans before being cut and re-signed to the practice squad ahead of the regular season.
Five-year veteran Fales was signed by New York when Trevor Siemian was placed on injured reserve, serving as the immediate back up to Luke Falk.
Fales is a five-year veteran drafted by the Bears in 2015, and saw stints with the Dolphins and Lions before landing with the Jets. He has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 287 yards and an interception and touchdown apiece.
The move points to two key thoughts in the Jets' game plan moving forward, having lost Quincy Enunwa for the season to a potentially career-threatening neck injury, new signee Demaryius Thomas already missing a game to injury and Sam Darnold slowly making his way back from mononucleosis.
New York and Darnold collectively have tapped Week 5 as a hopeful return date for the second-year quarterback, so releasing your current backup QB with 13 days till your next game certainly continues floating that narrative to the Jets faithful.