The Jets got positive injury news Friday — and more could be on the way.
An MRI exam revealed running back Le’Veon Bell has no structural damage in his sore shoulder, and middle linebacker C.J. Mosley is hopeful his groin injury won’t keep him out of Monday night’s game against the Browns.
“My plan the whole week has been to get ready for Monday to play,” Mosley said. “So far everything has been going smooth with the rehab and everything. With a pull like that, you got to play it day by day. I expect to play, but if my body’s not there, I won’t take a chance.”
Bell, meanwhile, should be fine. He was busy in his first game since the 2017 postseason, rushing 17 times for 60 yards and catching six passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s loss to the Bills, but felt some soreness after a physical practice on Wednesday.
“Probably a little too aggressive on Wednesday after playing 71 plays on Sunday,” coach Adam Gase said, noting Bell suffered the injury in practice and not during Sunday’s game “We need everybody. The fact that one of our best players is OK, I’m [happy] about that.”
Gase doesn’t sound like he’s planning to lighten Bell’s workload, unless his star running back asks for it. Especially with quarterback Sam Darnold (mononucleosis) out, the Jets need even more from Bell.“Having Le’Veon really helps us, because [of] his experience. He’s been through a lot of different situations,” Gase said. “He’s been through situations where Ben [Roethlisberger] got hurt in Pittsburgh and he had to carry the load a little bit more. He’s been through so many different situations as far as like we’re going through right now.”
Getting Mosley back would be a significant boost for the defense. The talented middle linebacker was the best Jet on the field in Sunday’s loss to the Bills, producing a pick-six, five tackles and two passes defensed, before leaving the game late in the third quarter. Without him, the Jets’ defense collapsed, blowing a 16-point lead.
Mosley, a major free-agent acquisition from the Ravens, has yet to practice this week, but is hopeful he’ll be able to on Saturday.
“I’m going to see just how it feels,” Mosley said. “I have to be smart about the situation because it’s early in the season. Worst-case scenario, I could reinjure myself.”