Jets taking large risk by overworking Bell

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Le’Veon Bell will have ice packs permanently strapped to every part of his body if the Jets don’t curtail his workload. For all the summer chatter about Adam Gase’s spread-thewealth offensive philosophy, Gang Green has employed a predictable allBell-all-the-time blueprint that has predictably failed.

The Jets have a grand total of two scoring drives — and one touchdown — in 36 drives entering Sunday’s game in Philly. By every objective measure, 11 points in 12 quarters is unacceptable.

Gase has leaned on Bell way too often through the first games without a big payoff. Bell has carried, caught or been targeted on an eye-opening 51.7 percent of the team’s 172 offensive plays.

One-man productions work on Broadway, but they’re doomed in the NFL.

Bell’s usage is simply too much. The 27-year-old, who entered the season with 1,635 career touches, is on pace to match his singleseason high of 406 touches in Pittsburgh in 2017. It’s not a manageable workload for a player with a history of getting nicked up.

“I just sat out a whole year,” Bell said. “It’s like I kind of reset. All of the touches I didn’t get last year, OK, you can double it up this year. That’s fine.”

Bell has a commendable spirit, but it won’t be good for anyone on One Jets Drive if he continues that workload.

“It’s hard to take him off the field,” Gase said. “When you say, `Hey, we’d love to take you out this series,’ it’s not ideal for him. He wants to be in there.”

Of course he does. He’s a competitor, but it’s incumbent upon the coach to see the bigger picture and protect the player from himself. Bell has been on the field for all but seven of the Jets’ snaps through three games.

Hopefully, Gase’s selfevaluation during the bye week included getting Ty Montgomery, who has a grand total of 10 touches (seven carries and three catches) for 45 yards, more involved in an offense that was billed as a diverse attack.

Line changes coming:

Third-round rookie Chuma Edoga and veteran Alex Lewis are expected to start on the Jets’ line against the Eagles on Sunday, according to sources.

Edoga will replace veteran right tackle Brandon Shell, who has started 32 games in four seasons. Lewis will take over for left guard Kelechi Osemele, who suffered a shoulder injury in practice this week to go along with a nagging knee issue. Osemele is officially listed as doubtful.

Restraint needed even though he’s eager to play