Bilal Powell is re-signing with the New York Jets, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, where he'll be joined in the backfield by Matt Forte instead of Chris Ivory.
Jets rebuilt backfield will still feature Bilal Powell
Powell will now split time with Matt Forte instead of Chris Ivory.
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
After completing a four-year contract with New York followed by a one-year deal in 2015, Powell reached free agency on Wednesday, but after one day he returned to the Jets. Powell averaged 4.2 yards per carry over the last four years, including 4.5 yards in 2015.
Powell saw his playing time decrease significantly over the last two years, as Chris Ivory emerged as the Jets' No. 1 running back option. Ivory, who's also a free agent this spring, has rushed for 1,891 yards on 445 attempts since 2014. Powell's only carried the ball 103 times in that time span after recording 176 attempts in 2013.
A 2011 fourth-round pick out of Louisville, the 27-year-old Powell came into the NFL after posting strong numbers in college. In his senior season, he averaged an astonishing 6.1 yards per carry, accumulating 1,405 yards on 229 attempts.
It’s unlikely Powell will replicate that kind of production in the NFL. But he can surely be a productive running back if he’s given an opportunity.
However, with Forte now ahead of him on the depth chart, don’t expect to see much more of Powell in 2016 than before. Especially with the Jets adding former New Orleans Saints running back Khiry Robinson to the fold, according to NFL.com’s Albert Breer, making for a crowded backfield.
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