Per ESPN:
The New York Jets made it official Saturday morning, placing safety Jim Leonhard on injured reserve — ending his season less than 24 hours after he broke his right shin during a collision in practice.
Leonhard underwent surgery Friday night at Morristown (N.J.) Memorial Hospital, where a rod was placed through the fractured tibia to stabilize the bone, the team announced.
The typical recovery time for this type of injury is four to five months, according to doctors. Leonhard remained at the hospital Saturday, and is tentatively scheduled to be discharged Sunday or Monday. The Jets won’t immediately fill his roster spot, but they likely will add a safety in the coming days.
Even though Leonhard didn’t suffer an open fracture, according to the Jets, it was bad enough for coach Rex Ryan to call it “severe.”
One player, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it looked “pretty bad” and had to turn away. Another player almost became choked up when recounting the injury, saying, “I’d rather not talk about it.”
Leonhard, only 5-foot-8 and 188 pounds, was injured during a collision with wide receiver Patrick Turner late in Friday’s practice. It created a somber mood around the team as the Jets continued preparations for Monday night’s AFC East showdown against the New England Patriots. Both teams are 9-2.
Leonhard will be replaced by Brodney Pool, a part-time starter. The other safety is Eric Smith.
