The New York Jets are keeping their former rugby star in-house.
Hayden Smith, the former English Premier division lock forward-turned-NFL tight end, didn't break camp on the 53-man roster, but the team has assigned him to the practice squad, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported Saturday.
This move isn't a surprise. As I wrote back in April, Smith is a project-type player who will need time to translate his abilities to a football field. Standing at 6-foot-7 and 240 pounds and possessing 4.75 speed in the 40-yard dash, Smith has the tools to find a role in a league taken over by large, hyper-athletic tight ends.
That he was assigned to the practice squad tells us the Jets were shown enough to believe Smith eventually can make the leap. But that time is not now.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
