FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets' tight end position took another hit Tuesday, as Jace Amaro -- a second-round draft pick in 2014 -- was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a torn labrum in his shoulder.
Amaro, hurt in the first preseason game, will have surgery to repair the tear. Initially, the Jets said he was week-to-week with a sprained shoulder.
"We gave him time to get better, and he didn't get better," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said. "He can't do anything. ... He's still in a lot of pain."
In June, the Jets lost backup tight end Zach Sudfeld to season-ending knee surgery.
Amaro's injury eliminates a compelling storyline for the two Jets-Buffalo Bills meetings.
During the offseason, Amaro angered former Jets coach Rex Ryan by saying in a radio interview that the team lacked accountability last season. Ryan fired back, saying Amaro is "going to be accountable for his comments" when the teams play.
Informed of Amaro's pending surgery, Ryan expressed compassion, but he couldn't resist taking another shot.
"I feel bad for the kid," Ryan told reporters in Buffalo. "Jace is a good kid. He just made stupid comments. He's a good kid and I feel bad that he can't do it. He's a talented guy, but I wasn't exactly afraid of him."
Amaro was a record-setting receiver at Texas Tech, making 106 catches for 1,352 yards in 2013. The Jets envisioned him as a prolific pass-catching tight end, but his rookie season was underwhelming. He led all rookie tight ends with 38 catches, but he also had six drops.
Never known for his blocking skills, Amaro was moved by the new coaching staff to H-back, but he got off to a sluggish start and was listed as the No. 3 tight end on the first official depth chart of the preseason.
Amaro fell behind journeyman Kellen Davis, the primary backup to starter Jeff Cumberland. Now they have a serious depth problem. The only other tight ends on the 75-man roster are Arthur Lynch (no career catches) and undrafted rookie Wes Saxton.
Bowles said Lynch and Saxton will share the playing time Thursday night in the final preseason game. Amaro wasn't available to reporters.
"He was bummed out about it, but when you're in pain and you're not getting any better, you fix it sooner than later," Bowles said.
In other moves, the Jets trimmed their roster to 75 by placing defensive end Kevin Vickerson (hamstring) on injured reserve and waiving cornerback Dashaun Phillips (ribs) with an injury settlement.
ESPN Bills reporter Mike Rodak contributed to this report.