Jags place OLB Jordan Smith on IR, sign OLB Wyatt Ray
The Jacksonville Jaguars have officially placed second-year player Jordan Smith on injured reserve after he went down with a knee injury early last week. They also signed a player to fill his vacant spot on Tuesday by adding fourth-year linebacker Wyatt Ray to the roster.
Ray, 25, entered the league in 2019 as an undrafted player out of Boston College. He spent his rookie season as a practice squad player with various teams but got his first opportunities as a regular-season player with the Tennessee Titans (2020) and Cincinnati Bengals (2021).
While with the Bengals, he recorded 15 tackles and a sack (in 15 games), and while with the Titans, he recorded two tackles (in four games). Ray will also enter his tenure with the Jags with two starts, with one coming through his stints with both aforementioned teams.
As for his collegiate career, Wyatt accumulated 114 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks while with the Boston College Eagles. In his senior season (2018), he was able to earn Third-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after hitting a career-high of 44 tackles that season.
Wyatt is the grandson of the late legendary singer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Nat King Cole and nephew of the late Natalie Cole. He’s also a native of Boca Raton, Fla. where he attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
As for Smith, reporters said that the staff was evaluating his right knee when he went down last Monday. Last Thursday, coach Doug Pederson announced that his injury would require surgery, which is expected to keep him out for the season.
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