Jets wide receiver Devin Smith hasn’t taken a single snap or seen a single rep since suffering a season-ending knee injury a year ago.

He hasn’t caught a ball against a defender, run a route versus a cornerback or cut with the objective of getting around someone.

As a result, it would be easy to draw the conclusion that Smith’s development is stunted. But, believe it or not, that’s not the case.

At least according to Jets receiver’s coach Karl Dorrell.

“This offseason has given him a chance to develop,” Dorrell said outside the Jets locker room Wednesday. “I think that will help him when he gets back on the field.”

Originally selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, many assumed Smith, who averaged 28 yards per catch as a senior at Ohio State, would make an immediate impact on the Jets’ offense. After all, he brought something to the field that no one else in the receivers’ meeting room did: Speed.

And last offseason, it appeared as if those early expectations would be met as the wideout regularly made plays in OTAs and minicamp.

Then came an injury in training camp that sidelined Smith until the regular season. When he was healthy enough to play, he wasn’t mentally ready to contribute. The time off the field had hurt his progression. When he finally got caught up to speed, he tore his ACL. To this day, he hasn’t been medically cleared for football activity. But that doesn’t mean Smith hasn’t been working to improve himself. Unable to play football, he’s been working to learn it.

“From a knowledge standpoint, he knows our offense about as well as anyone,” Dorrell said. “I think it was different a year ago at this time. He knows everything, it’s just a matter of him knocking the rust off and getting used to how we do things and the speed.

“Once that happens, it shouldn’t be a long period of time for him to get himself going.”

The key now for Smith is simply getting healthy. Originally believed to be a candidate to land on the PUP list to start the year — and thus miss the first six games — Smith is, according to Dorrell “way ahead” of schedule in his rehab. He’s already started running and changing direction.

In fact, Dorrell said the Jets coaches think Smith will “be back soon,” although a definitive date has not been supplied.

And once Smith gets back? Well, Dorrell says it won’t be long before Smith’s making plays for the offense once again.

“He should be able to hit the ground running,” he said.

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Connor Hughes covers the Jets and is the managing editor of Jets Wire. He can be reached on Twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes), or via email (chughes@usatoday.com)