BOWLES HEALTH SCARE
JETS COACH SENT TO HOSPITAL, MAY MISS PATRIOTS GAME
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Jets could be without their leader Saturday against the Patriots.
Todd Bowles was taken to the hospital Friday afternoon, with the team initially fearing the 53-year-old coach was suffering a heart attack, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He became ill at the team’s headquarters and did not oversee the team’s walk-through. He reportedly vomited, experienced chest pains and back pains and could not keep down medication.
Doctors at the hospital determined Bowles did not have a heart attack — though there was no indication what might have been the issue — and said they would like to monitor Bowles’ condition more closely after the season.
Bowles did not travel with the team, and his status for the game remained uncertain as of Friday evening.
A source said Bowles felt better Friday night, and he was not dealing with any serious medical condition. Bowles wants to make the trip and coach the team, but he needed to convince the doctors he was well enough to do so. If Bowles cannot, assistant head coach Mike Caldwell will serve as the team’s head coach. Caldwell oversaw the walkthrough Friday. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan visited Bowles in the hospital, and the two remained in contact throughout the day.
This has not been an easy season for the 53-year-old coach. After going 10-6 in his first year with the Jets, Bowles has suffered through a 4-10 season that has made his job security a question. The Jets enter Saturday’s game with a roster that has been decimated by injuries. The Jets have just three starters left on offense from their opening game and six on defense.
The season has gone so badly the Jets basically are in evaluation mode right now. They made the switch from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Bryce Petty at quarterback two weeks agoo in or-order to get a long look at Petty, the second-year quarterback, too see if he can be the answer at the position in 2017.
Bowles has come under a lot of criticism this season for the team’s performance, some of his in-game decisions andnd how he has handled disciplinary issues. This week, hehe dealt with Sheldon Richardson’s social media gaffe andd came under fire for not ot coming down harder on thee defensive lineman.
If Bowles does not make thee trip, Caldwell will be in charge. e. The 45-year-old is the team’s ’s linebackers coach and assistantnt head coach. He came to the Jetsets from the Cardinals withith Bowles. The two have coached hed together since 2012, when theyhey were both with the Eagles.