POWELL OUTAGE
The Jets may need to put an addition onto their trainer’s room as their injuries continue to pile up.
The latest blow came Wednesday, when the team placed starting running back Bilal Powell on season-ending injured reserve with a neck issue. He is the latest lost starter — joining wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, cornerback Buster Skrine and safety Marcus Maye.
As the Jets prepare to face the Bears, their depth is getting severely tested. Coach Todd Bowles said the team is not feeling sorry for itself.
“We never have that attitude,” Bowles said. “It’s never woe is us, whether we’ve got all of them or any of them. Those guys fight and they play hard. I don’t worry about that.”
Powell’s injury is severe. Bowles said it could be career- ending for the back, who turns 30 on Saturday. Bowles said Powell has had neck issues in the past. He took a hit in Sunday’s loss to the Vikings that caused him to leave the game and may have brought an end to his career.
“It’s not the first time it’s come up,” Bowles said. “It’s been a recurring injury. This time it just happened to be bad.”
Bowles compared it to Enunwa’s injury from 2017 that cost him the season. Enunwa was able to return this year, but Bowles said Powell’s injury may be worse.
Powell was the second-leading Jets rusher with 343 yards rush-
ing on 80 carries. He also had 11 catches for 110 yards and one touchdown. A fourth-round draft pick in 2011, he was the longest-tenured Jet and the last player remaining from the Mike Tannenbaum era. His 3,446 rushing yards are the 10th most in franchise history.
“It’s definitely a hit,” wide receiver Jermaine Kearse said. “He was someone who was just efficient running the ball. He was a leader in this locker room. Guys have a lot of respect for BP. It definitely sucks. We have to continue to try to support him and support the guys who are going to have to step up.”
The Jets will stick with Isaiah Crowell and rookie Trenton Cannon at running back for now. Bowles said they will consider adding a free agent or promoting someone from the practice squad to fill the hole. Elijah McGuire, on injured reserve since the preseason with a broken foot, is eligible to be activated next week.
Seven starters did not practice Wednesday: Darron Lee (illness), Morris Claiborne (shoulder/foot), Spencer Long (knee/finger), Robby Anderson (ankle), Johnson (quad), Kelvin Beachum (back) and Enunwa (ankle) were all out.
The good news for the Jets was Maye (thumb) and Skrine (concussion) practiced on a limited basis, a sign they could return this week.
The Jets have gotten so thin at some positions that they had to dip in the free-agent market this week, adding Rishard Matthews at wide receiver and Ibraheim Campbell at safety.
Johnson, who has missed the past three games, said he feels better daily. The Jets signed the cornerback to a five-year, $72.5 million contract this winter. He said the big contract has not created any additional pressure for him to rush to return.
“No, not at all. With this injury, it’s a freakish injury,” Johnson said. “The position I play, I want to go out there and definitely help my team win. At the position I play I have to be out there at least with a good percentage of playing.”
Maye still has not had any con- tact. Bowles said he just ran around on Wednesday. Maye said the trainers are trying to create a special glove to protect his broken right thumb. He said he feels good and is just waiting on the green light from the coaches and trainers.
“The injuries are a part of the game,” said Maye, who has missed four games this season due to injuries. “The guys are stepping in we feel comfortable that those guys can step in and play. The new guys in the building we’re going to expect them to come along pretty fast. It’s a tough deal but you have to learn on the fly. Injuries are part of the game. We just have to deal with it and move forward.”