The Jets are planning to use a committee of running backs to handle their workload on the ground this season, although that plan can only be implemented if there’s a stable of backs to use in support of Geno Smith or Michael Vick.
One of the players expected to be part of that stable suffered an injury in the preseason opener against the Colts on Thursday night. Chris Ivory injured his ribs late in the second quarter of the game and did not return. Ivory wasn’t necessarily going to play any more at that point in the game, but the injury would still have an impact if it limited Ivory’s availability in the coming days. Coach Rex Ryan wasn’t overly concerned about that possibility.
“Ivory should be fine,” Ryan said, via NJ.com.
Ivory, who ran for 17 yards on seven carries Thursday, hurt his ribs during the final game of the 2013 season and his bruising style has exposed him to other nagging injuries over the years. Should this fall into that category, Ivory could be at risk of losing time to Chris Johnson, who had a touchdown on four carries and two catches against Indianapolis, or Bilal Powell, who didn’t play because of a hamstring injury.