Brian Winters Injury: Updates on Jets Guard's ACL and Return

Updates from Monday, Oct. 13

The Jets made an official announcement on Twitter:

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News has the latest on Winters' injury:

Original Text

The New York Jets dropped their fifth game in a row Sunday in a 31-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, and in the process an embattled offensive line lost starting guard Brian Winters to injury, too.   

Winters, who has consistently battled injury this season, left with the help of staff in the midst of the loss. The prognosis after the game, per Pro Football Talk, suggests his season may be over:

The 2013 third-round pick has been the subject of much scrutiny this season at 23 years old, as he entered Sunday ranking as the No. 71 overall guard in the NFL at Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

For the time being, a shaky passing attack led by Geno Smith, which generated all of 190 yards and two scores Sunday against Denver, will turn to Oday Aboushi and Dakota Dozier, among others, for help in the trenches to replace Winters. Aboushi took over at left guard after Winters left Sunday's loss.

The job for Smith under center may only get more difficult now that continuity and chemistry has been disrupted with Winters' injury. For now, expect coach Rex Ryan to employ a next-man up approach.