Jets’ Forte closer to full return

Matt Forte is getting closer to returning to the New York Jets’ backfield.

The 31-year-old running back has not practiced fully since injuring a hamstring during practice on July 31. Forte participated in individual drills Monday, but was held out of the team periods.

“I’m feeling good, but not good enough to be in full practice yet,” Forte said. “So, I’m just going through what the trainers tell me and easing back in. I don’t want to go back out there immediately and get injured again. Hamstrings are tricky.”

Coach Todd Bowles said Forte, expected to be the starter, remains day to day. The running back missed a chunk of time last summer when he hurt the same hamstring and came back too soon, aggravating the injury and needing a few weeks to fully heal.

“It’s something to learn from,” he said, “so this year I definitely have to let it heal so I don’t have any setbacks.”

Forte had a career-low 813 yards rushing last season, his first with the Jets, but got off to a solid start. He rushed for 261 yards in the first three games, but a torn meniscus in his right knee diminished his production as the season went along.

Forte sat out the Jets’ 7-3 preseason-opening win over Tennessee on Saturday night, and has found himself getting antsy while waiting to get back on the field.

Bennett anthem

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett plans to sit during the national anthem this season to protest social injustice — and expects a backlash over an issue that is “bigger than a sport.”

He sat on the visiting bench during “The StarSpangled Banner” before a preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, a decision he made before weekend protests by white supremacists at the University of Virginia.

The violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, including the death of a young woman struck by a car deliberately driven into a group of counter-protesters Saturday, solidified Bennett’s decision.

“With everything that’s been going on the last couple of months and especially after the last couple of days, seeing everything in Virginia, seeing what’s going on out there earlier today in Seattle, I just wanted to be able to use my platform to be able to continue to speak over injustice,” Bennett said.

“First of all, I want people to understand I love the military. My father was in the military. I love hot dogs like any other American. I love football like any other American, but I don’t love segregation,” he added. “I don’t love riots. I don’t love oppression. I don’t love gender slander. I just want to see people have the equality that they deserve, and I want to be able to use this platform to continuously push the message of that, you know, and keep journeying out and keep finding out how unselfish can we be as a society.”

Bennett was at least the third prominent NFL player to protest during the anthem in the first full week of preseason games. Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, a former teammate of Bennett’s in Seattle, also sat. Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn raised his right fist, continuing his approach from last season following then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the anthem.

Rice practices

The San Francisco 49ers made a big-time acquisition at wide receiver — at least for one practice.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice put on the cleats and took part in practice with the 49ers, running patterns and doing stretches in individual drills, dishing out tips to young receivers and even shadowing the wideouts during team drills.

“Oh man, that was pretty exciting,” undrafted rookie Kendrick Bourne said. “Kind of had me kind of nervous but definitely very excited. Being out here practicing with him and seeing how much older he is and he can still move well. It was good learning. I learned a lot from him.”

Rice has plenty of knowledge from a 20year career that featured NFL records with 1,549 catches, 22,895 yards receiving, 208 total touchdowns and three Super Bowl titles.

He even showed he still has some moves at age 54, nearly 13 years removed from his final game, with the way he ran patterns during individual drills.

“It’s definitely inspiring,” Bourne said. “It just tells you how hard you can go and you can push your body to limits that you didn’t know you could go.”

Matthews out

The revamped group of Buffalo Bills receivers is suddenly down a key addition with Jordan Matthews sidelined indefinitely because of a chip fracture in his sternum.

The Bills list Matthews as week to week, and general manager Brandon Beane told The Associated Press he’s “hopeful” the newly acquired player will be ready for the season opener in four weeks. Beane said the team’s medical staff is “still figuring it out,” because the timetable for recovery depends on how quickly the bruising subsides and the bone heals.

Freeman concussion

The Falcons’ Devonta Freeman has concussion symptoms and the team is taking no chances with the league’s highest-paid running back.

He has been ruled out this week’s preseason game at Pittsburgh in what coach Dan Quinn described as a precaution.

Freeman left Sunday’s practice with what was announced as heat-related issues. Quinn said Monday that Freeman reported the symptoms after leaving the field and has been placed in the concussion protocol.

Dolphins add Griffey

A person familiar with the deal says the Miami Dolphins have signed undrafted free agent receiver Trey Griffey, the son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr.

Griffey had 79 catches for 1,241 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons at Arizona. A center fielder in baseball, he was drafted in the 24th round of the 2016 draft by the Seattle Mariners but opted to stay with football.