It hasn’t been a great offseason to be a New York Jets running back.
Mike Goodson was arrested on gun and drug charges in May and isn’t in training camp with the team. Joe McKnight was arrested for unpaid fines and has been banged up several times in camp and Chris Ivory had been forced to miss practice due to a hamstring strain.
The result was the Jets needing to sign Kahlil Bell for depth and Bilal Powell getting the reps with the first-team offense in training camp.
But the Jets got some welcome news Monday when Ivory was able to return to practice for the first time since camp began. Ivory was able make it through the practice and head coach Rex Ryan is hopeful he’ll be able to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday.
“That was big to get him back today,” Ryan said, via the team’s official website. “I hope he does play Saturday. He’s a big, powerful man. I think every Jets fan is looking forward to seeing him run.”
The Jets acquired Ivory in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick from the New Orleans Saints in April and will be counted upon to be a big part of the Jets running game this season.