After an offseason when it seemed like they might have to open camp without him, the Jets have quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on the field after signing him to a new contract on the eve of training camp.
They expected to have running back Matt Forte on the field as well, but he suffered a hamstring pull before camp got underway and it hasn’t improved to the point that he’s able to practice. Forte’s been around the NFL long enough to know that hamstring injuries can linger a long time if they aren’t allowed to heal and long enough to know that preseason work is secondary to what comes later.
“It’s my ninth training camp,” Forte said, via the New York Daily News. “Preseason is a time to get ready for the season. So you want to peak going into the season. You don’t want to wear yourself out at training camp. I’ve been affording the luxury to be able to heal this injury so I can be at my best.”
Losing time in a new offense isn’t ideal, but Forte has been around enough blocks that the team can feel confident he’ll be ready to go in September even if he isn’t taking reps in early August. The bigger concern is likely that this hamstring issue is the start of a year filled with aches and pains for a 30-year-old back in a new uniform.