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Former Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Christopher Smith trying to make a play during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams.
On Tuesday, December 23, the New York Jets placed quarterback Justin Fields on injured reserve.
24 hours later, the Jets’ corresponding roster move was to claim defensive back Christopher Smith off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared the news on social media.
The Jets claimed DB Christopher Smith off waivers from the Rams and officially placed QB Justin Fields on injured reserve.
The Jets confirmed the news on social media.
Jets Continue to Churn the Bottom Half of the Roster
Smith, 25, was cut by the Rams on Tuesday, December 23.
The former Georgia product initially joined the NFL as the No. 170 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He spent the first two and a half years of his career with the Las Vegas Raiders.
In November, he was cut by the Raiders and was claimed on waivers by the Rams. He is listed at 5-foot-10 and weighs 197 pounds.
“The Georgia product appeared in 36 games over 3 seasons for Las Vegas, primarily as a contributor on special teams. Smith was waived by the Raiders on Nov. 18 after appearing in 9 games for the team this season. He was claimed by the Rams and appeared in 4 games for Los Angeles before he was waived by the team on Tuesday,” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir wrote in a press release.
Smith won two National Championships during his time in college at Georgia.
He played five seasons with the Bulldogs and appeared in 56 games. With those opportunities, Smith racked up 132 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, six interceptions, 10 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble.
Interesting Non-Choice by the Jets Front Office
Head coach Aaron Glenn revealed to the media on Tuesday, December 23, that the team was placing Fields on IR. That meant the former Ohio State product’s 2025 season was officially over.
With Fields on injured reserve, that opened up a spot on the 53-man roster. The team didn’t immediately announce a corresponding roster move.
One direction they could have gone was replacing one quarterback with another one.
For weeks, the Jets had carried three quarterbacks on the active roster: Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook.
Fields being removed from the picture left the Jets with only two quarterbacks on the active roster. The green and white do have one additional passer on the practice squad: Hendon Hooker.
Gang Green added Hooker last Thursday ahead of the Week 16 New Orleans Saints game. Glenn initially revealed that they signed Hooker as an emergency option if their injured veterans weren’t able to suit up, but he also mentioned that they liked Hooker as a developmental prospect.
The Jets could have signed Hooker to the 53-man roster as a direct replacement for Fields. That would have kept the Jets with three passers.
Obviously, they didn’t choose to do that. They could still do that by removing a different player from the 53-man roster to open up a spot.
With Taylor battling both a groin and a knee injury, it would behoove the Jets to add some more insurance to the room. Hooker is an interesting prospect who could be an option in the season finale if Cook continues to struggle.
Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A New York native, he co-hosts a morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green Digital.” Before joining Heavy in 2021, Esden Jr. covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY, and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.
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