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“All the stuff I’ve learned has been through players,” Morton continued. “Being around great quarterbacks, I learn the game how they see it. …I think it’s good when players speak up, and let’s talk about it.”

Forte received just four carries in the loss, and Morton called just 21 run plays despite vicious winds and torrential downpour. After the game, Forte voiced his displeasure with Morton abandoning the run, saying, “I don’t really think we ran the ball enough with the weather being the way it was.”

Morton gave a stern “no” Thursday when asked if he was bothered by Forte going public with his concerns.

“After the game, players are emotional, coaches are emotional, and sometimes they say things maybe they shouldn’t say,” Morton said, echoing Todd Bowles’ message in the days after the loss. “But listen, I’m cool with that, I don’t have a problem with that at all. We all talked about it, and life goes on. I listen. If guys want to do certain things, all right. As long as it’s good for the team, let’s do it.”

Less than a week later in a Thursday Night Football win over the Bills, the Jets broke out for 194 yards on the ground on 41 carries, 36 of which were called runs. Forte led the way, setting season highs in carries (14) and rushing yards (77). He also found the end zone twice.

In the locker room after the victory, players lauded Morton for sticking with the run. Josh McCown pointed to the Jets’ first possession as an indication of Morton’s adjusted approach. The Jets went three-and-out on that opening drive, but Morton called three straight runs.

“Even if it’s three-and-out, if you call three runs and you’re committed to it, it sets a tone with the guys to let them know, ‘Hey, we’re committed to it,” McCown said after the game. “It really, I think, sent a message to our guys up front that we’re riding you, and they did a great job.”

The Bills entered the game with the third-best rushing defense in the league.

“It was going,” Morton said of the run game Thursday. “When something is going, let’s stay with it.”

The performance was certainly vindication for Forte, who at 31 is tied for the second-oldest player on the Jets roster. He showed signs of his younger self, breaking tackles and making defenders miss with his trademark