FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — It didn’t take long for the New York Jets to be reminded of the perils of relying on 30-something players in today’s NFL.
Running back Matt Forte and cornerback Darrelle Revis, who could each arguably be the Jets’ most important player on their respective sides of the ball, were sidelined early in training camp with what appear to be minor injuries.
The 30-year-old Forte, who signed with the Jets as a free agent in March following eight seasons with the Chicago Bears, missed the first four practices with a hamstring injury he suffered before training camp. He returned to positional drills on Tuesday.
“We’re just taking it slow so I don’t reinjure it,” Forte said Sunday, when he called the seriousness of the ailment a “1” on a scale of 1 to 10. “Hamstrings are tricky. If you reinjure it, then you could be set back longer. Every day I feel a lot better.”
Revis, who turned 31 on July 14, sat out the first three practices as he continues to recover from offseason wrist surgery. He returned to positional drills Sunday and participated in full team drills on Tuesday.
“I’m feeling OK,” Revis said following the Jets’ first practice of training camp last Friday. “There’s always going to be soreness coming back from surgery.
“But there’s definitely no setbacks.”
The Jets have to hope that remains the case. Forte is expected to diversify the offense by serving as the “1-A” in a running back by committee with Bilal Powell. Revis, meanwhile, is looking to prove he is still an elite cornerback, and not a candidate for a position switch to safety, following the first down season of his career.