The Jets ran for 252 yards against the Colts on Sunday, a welcome development for a team that had struggled to move the ball at all on the ground during the first five weeks of the season.
All of that activity has left the Jets with some injury issues at running back, however. Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight both picked up scrapes during the game and the results of MRIs on both players leave open the possibility that the Jets will be short at running back when they head up to New England.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Powell has a dislocated right shoulder and will miss the game against the Patriots. Powell had four carries and a catch on Sunday and has run for 131 yards overall this season. Once Powell left the game, McKnight broke off a 61-yard run down the sideline to set up a Jets score. McKnight came up limping after the play, however, and an MRI revealed a high ankle sprain. That will likely keep him out this week and, with a bye in Week Nine, the Jets could be without both players for multiple weeks.
Shonn Greene had 161 yards and three touchdowns yesterday, so the Jets offense could survive without Powell and McKnight if Greene and the line repeat their performances from Sunday. With only undrafted rookie Jonathan Grimes behind Greene, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them at least take a look at available backs this week.