The New York Jets have suffered a critical injury to their special teams unit.

Gang Green announced on X previously on Twitter that they have placed defensive back Kris Boyd on injured reserve.

We’ve placed DB Kris Boyd on injured reserve

“The Jets have placed CB/special teamer Kris Boyd (shoulder) on injured reserve, ending his season. He was carted off Aug. 2 in the intrasquad scrimmage. He was expected to be a core player on special teams,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini explained.

The Jets have placed CB/special teamer Kris Boyd (shoulder) on injured reserve, ending his season. He was carted off Aug. 2 in the intrasquad scrimmage. He was expected to be a core player on special teams. #Jets

Boyd Never Got His Footing With the Jets This Offseason

The former Texas product entered the league as the No. 217 overall pick in the seventh round.

He started his career with the Minnesota Vikings, but after his rookie contract expired, Boyd bounced around the league.

The Jets were set to be Boyd’s fourth team over the last four years. He signed a one-year $1.6 million contract that included $330,000 guaranteed.

“The Jets signed him to a deal greater than the minimum ($1.6 million) because they value his skills as a gunner on special teams,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic explained in a column posted on July 17.

The team won’t get a chance to see that through this year because Boyd’s season is over. “Boyd (5-11, 201) sustained a shoulder injury during the team’s Green & White practice on Aug. 2,” Jets editorial contributor Susanna Weir posted.

He was carted off the practice field and was described as “writhing in pain on the sideline,” according to Dennis Waszak Jr of the Associated Press.

Rosenblatt speculated in an article posted on August 10 that Boyd’s injury could be serious.

“[He] suffered a shoulder injury in camp and, based on his emotional posts on Instagram recently, it seems likely it’s a long-term injury, though that hasn’t been confirmed yet,” Rosenblatt said at the time.

This Injury Deserves More of Your Attention

Folks may see this news, eyeroll, and say next man up.

Easier said than done.

Boyd has been a core special teams player throughout his career. He was expected to be that for the green and white.

“He’s especially important with Irv Charles working his way back from a torn ACL,” Rosenblatt said.

“He’ll likely start the season on the PUP list coming off ACL surgery, but he’s a valuable piece on special teams when healthy,” Rosenblatt added.

If his prediction is correct, Charles would be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season.

An Early Test for a New Jets Coach

A lot of changes were made this offseason, and that included the coaching staff.

The green and white hired Chris Banjo as the new special teams coordinator.

Banjo, 35, was playing in the NFL three years ago. Over the last two years, he made the immediate jump to coaching.

During that stretch, Banjo served as the assistant special teams coach for the Denver Broncos.

Now, with the Jets in 2025, he is running the full operation for the very first time.

These injuries serve as a first challenge to the new coach. He will now have to make chicken salad out of chicken, you know what, at the gunner spots.