Jets place WR Eric Decker on IR with season-ending shoulder injury

Oct 26, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) during warm ups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Buffalo Bills defeated New York Jets 43-23. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

It's beginning to look like a lost season for the New York Jets. At 1-4, they're quickly falling out of the playoff race, and now they'll have to make a push towards the postseason without their second-best wide receiver.

The team announced on Wednesday that Eric Decker has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, which has been described as a partially torn rotator cuff.

In place of Decker on the active roster, the Jets have signed former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall -- who's now a cornerback -- from the Jaguars' practice squad.

Decker played the first three games of the season, catching nine passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. He's become one of the best red-zone threats in the NFL, hauling in 52 touchdowns in seven seasons.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Decker's injury will require surgery, which will end his season. He's still just 30 years old and is signed through 2018, so he'll be a valuable piece going forward.

With Decker now sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Jets went from having arguably the best wide receiver group in the NFL to having one that's hurting. Second-year pro Devin Smith still has yet to play a game this season, while Brandon Marshall isn't getting any younger or more durable.

Decker's injury is a huge blow for a reeling Jets team, particularly when considering how bad Ryan Fitzpatrick has been this season.