CINCINNATI -- Safety Eric Smith injured his hip and surgically repaired left knee in Friday night's 17-6 loss to the Bengals, but the Jets' all-purpose player didn't seem alarmed.

"I don't think it's too serious," he said.

X-rays were negative, according to the team, and Smith is listed as day to day.

He was injured while covering a punt in the second quarter. It looked like his right leg got twisted under a pile, but it was the left leg that got hurt. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee after last season.

Smith plays a lot of roles for the Jets, and he'd be tough to replace -- even though he's not likely to start on defense anymore. He also plays a vital role on special teams.

After working with the first team through most of training camp, Smith didn't start at safety -- it was LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell -- but he played in a three-safety sub package on passing downs. Rex Ryan said he went with Landry and Bell so they could get accustomed to each other as they learn the defense.

"We purposely put out Yeremiah Bell to lead the back end," Ryan said. "I thought he did a nice job for us, with Landry. Those two guys really haven't had a whole lot of work together, so I wanted to start the game where those guys had to communicate. I thought they did a decent job."

Both players are new to the Jets' system, Bell coming from the Dolphins, Landry from the Redskins. Both were credited with one tackle apiece. Bell had a nice break-up on a pass to TE Jermaine Gresham. Landry, who has battled Achilles-tendon injuries the last two years, was just glad to be out there.

"It feels great," he said. "I’ve been battling with health issues. It’s been a roller coaster these past two years. This is my first time getting some live action in a while, going on IR last year, and it feels great to be back out there again."