Swelling in knee will keep Forte out against Bucs
Running back Matt Forte has been ruled out of the Jets’ game at Tampa Bay on Sunday because of swelling in his surgically-repaired right knee. Forte said Friday he’s played with swelling in the knee “for a while.” But over last weekend, after Forte rushed for 77 yards on a season-high 14 carries in the Jets’ dominant Thursday night victory over the Bills, the swelling increased “to a point where it’s getting significantly worse.” “Obviously coming from a Sunday game to a Thursday game, there’s less recovery time,” Forte said, “and it just got worse on me.” Forte underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee in January to repair a torn meniscus. He wore a sleeve on his right leg in the locker room Friday and walked with a slight limp. Forte said he
This just in: Bowles and his revamped staff have done a terrific job this year, according to sources familiar with reality.
“I think the world of Todd,” general manager Mike Maccagnan said. “When you become a general manager or head coach, there’s a learning curve. I really enjoy working with Todd…. I think he’s done a very good job… along with his coaching staff this year. Especially taking a younger team where we made some moves (in the offseason). (He) got those guys focused and playing hard and coming together well.”
Before doubters claim that there’s no chance Bowles could win Coach of the Year honors without making the playoffs, here’s a history lesson for you… free of charge.
Five coaches in the previous 40 seasons have earned the honor without making the postseason: Forrest Gregg (1976 Browns), Jack Patera (1978 Seahawks), Jack Pardee (1979 Washington), Lindy Infante (1989 Packers) and Jimmy Johnson (1990 underwent an MRI, which showed “just swelling.” He doesn’t expect to be shut down for the season, and doesn’t think the injury will require surgery. But draining the knee is a possibility.
“I’ve had it drained before, but it just depends on how it’s going,” Forte said. “If it’s going down any, then you won’t need to have it drained, but if it’s not, then sometimes you do.”
“I’m not that concerned,” Forte added. “You deal with injuries throughout the year, and at running back, it’s always obviously tough. You get a lot of injuries, and I’m just focused on healing up so I can get to the next game.”
After facing the Bucs on Sunday, the Jets have their bye week before hosting the Panthers on Nov. 26.
“We were looking to try to get it down, and then rest during the bye week. But over the weekend, it didn’t go down any,” Forte said. “Throughout this week, we were trying to get it to go down more and more, but it didn’t happen. So our thought is that obviously I’m out for this game, but then having the bye week off, hopefully by then my knee will be back to regular.”
Forte doesn’t believe he will need to address the issue in the offseason with any procedure, as he did in January. When asked if the swelling is related to his surgery, Forte said, “It’s related to football. I’m a running back in my 10th year. You play football long enough, you’re going to get injured.”
After the Jets’ Week 8 loss leadership group starting this spring. We established our culture. We knew from what we did in the spring that we weren’t going 0-16. We’re a young group building this camaraderie. And Coach put that trust in us.” to the Falcons at home, Forte criticized offensive coordinator John Morton for abandoning the run despite bad weather. Forte only received four carries in the game. Four days later against the Bills, Forte’s workload increased substantially. He doesn’t think the added touches factored into the swelling. “It was already swollen before that,” Forte said. Coming off his best game of the season, Forte will now have to wait at least two weeks to return to the field. “I’m determined to get back,” Forte said. “Obviously it’s not a good time to have it, and I felt like as a whole, as an offense — not just me — we were starting to play really well and score points and stuff. …But I can’t control that. The only thing I can control is what I do in the training room and try to get back.”
Defensive lineman Ed Stinson (neck) is the only other Jet who’s been ruled out for Sunday. Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder, toe), cornerback Morris Claiborne (foot), right guard Brian Winters (abdomen) and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (groin) are questionable and will be game-time decisions.
Stewart tweaked his groin in practice Thursday. Claiborne missed last week’s win over the Bills. Winters suffered his injury in Week 2, and it resurfaced this week.
Stewart is one of just four receivers on the Jets’ active roster, after Jeremy Kerley was suspended earlier this week. Todd Bowles said the team might call up a receiver from the practice squad before Sunday. Jalin Marshall and JoJo Natson are the two likely options.