Add running back to the list of depleted positions for the Jets.
After rookie La’Mical Perine left practice with an ankle injury this week, the Jets suddenly found themselves without any depth in the backfield besides veterans Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore. While this looked like a good thing for Bell and Gore – they’d see more practice reps as a result – Adam Gase said he was happy to give Perine’s reps to Josh Adams instead.
Adams had been out with an injury but returned to practice Tuesday.
“[Bell and Gore’s] attitude was ‘great, more reps for us,’” Gase said after practice Tuesday. “And I’m going like, ‘No. Not great,’ because we’re 28 and 37 [years old]. We’ve got to be smart here.”
Bell and Gore are locked in as the top rushing threats for the Jets. Even if Bell wants more reps in practice, Gase needs to make sure he doesn’t overwork his starters before the season starts. He’d much rather let younger players practice more in the hopes of learning new information about them as potential depth players behind Bell and Gore.
Adams is a serviceable backup for the Jets if Perine misses a lot of time with his ankle injury. Though Adams only played in three games with the Jets in 2019 and totaled 12 yards on eight rushes, he played admirably in 14 games and five starts for the Eagles in 2018. That year, he rushed 120 times for 511 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie. Adams is a big, bruising back at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds.
New York also re-signed UDFA Pete Guerriero to bring its healthy running back group up to four, and veteran Bilal Powell is also still available.
The Jets have a lot of glaring holes on their roster as injuries pile up. Running back is not one they can afford to cripple further, especially given the importance of Bell and Gore. Adams may not be the future of the Jets backfield once Perine returns, but he’s good enough to hold down the fort as a reserve player to keep Bell and Gore from further injury.