Powell’s return gives RBs boost

Bilal Powell is slated to be back in action Sunday afternoon at Miami, and the shifty running back’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Jets’ suddenly scuffling ground game. “You just miss the dynamics of him. He can make some plays,” coach Todd Bowles said of Powell, who practiced fully for the second day in a row on Friday after missing last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots with a calf strain. He declared himself at 100 percent and ready to go. After the Jets ran the ball well earlier in the year, including a 256yard Week 4 performance against the Jaguars, the rushing attack has skidded to a halt. Over the past two weeks, the Jets have produced 108 yards on 42 carries, an anemic 2.57 yards-per-carry average. Right guard Brian Winters has a simple explanation for the dropoff. “Teams are loading the box now because they know we can run the ball,” he said. It will only get tougher Sunday against Cameron Wake, Ndamukong Suh and the Dolphins’ thirdranked rushing defense, which allows just 80.4 yards per game and 3.5 per carry. But for the first time since Week 3 against the Dolphins, the Jets will have their full compliment of running backs healthy together, as Powell joins Matt Forte and Elijah McGuire in the backfield.

“It’s not going to be easy to run, we just got to keep grinding it,” Bowles said. “We have to try to run the ball regardless of how tough they are up front.”

Rookie tight end Jordan Leggett is still waiting to record his first NFL snap, and now he will have to wait a while longer. The team’s fifth-round pick will be held out of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins after his bothersome right knee swelled up following Thursday’s practice.

Bowles said Leggett will undergo tests before it will be determined how long he will be out. Leggett was active in Week 5, but didn’t play, and he was a healthy scratch last Sunday against the Patriots. He initially hurt the knee late in the preseason, costing him valuable practice time.

Middle linebacker Darron Lee isn’t interested in discussing his improved play. Instead, he referred to Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro’s move this week about not letting any positive accolades go to his head. Vaccaro and the Saints’ other defensive backs brought gas masks to practice. The intent was to metaphorically not let the talk get to their heads after the defense put together three straight strong performances.

“You’re not gassing me up,” Lee said. “We haven’t done anything yet. I expected this.”