Is the Past Starting to Haunt Jets’ RB Chris Ivory?

Jul 26, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets running back Chris Ivory (33) walks off the practice field following training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Let me start this one off with a disclaimer: I love the acquisition of Chris Ivory. I was thrilled when they made the trade, and I am still thrilled now. The rest of this piece is not a backhanded way to try to say that I didn’t want him to begin with. It is just me wondering about his durability. That being said, I will press ahead..

Also, I am not that concerned about Chris Ivory’s hamstring yet. On its face, it is still very early. As long as he can get some reps before the season begins he will be just fine. But, when I got to thinking about his past, it made me wonder…

Should we be concerned?

Chris Ivory has a violent running style. That style is part of the reason that we all wanted him here, as he was the opposite of the plodding Shonn Greene. But, the fact is, that style has also caused him injury problems, and problems that he has never recovered from quickly.

It started back in college for Chris. During his final year, he played five games before he suffered a season ending knee injury. Through his entire three-year career at Washington State, he only played in 22 games. Despite that, the Saints’ scouts liked what they saw and drafted Ivory in 2010.

In 2010, despite leading the team in rushing, Ivory had several injuries. After the last regular season game, he was put on injured reserve and didn’t play in the postseason. He didn’t heal quickly, and spent the first six games on the 2011 campaign on the PUP list. No, this wasn’t a hamstring like he has now. But, fact is he didn’t heal quickly then.

Now we come to the 2013 season. Ivory has come to Jets’ camp with a lot of expectations, and then we have this hamstring injury. Again, it’s early in training camp, we know that. This isn’t REALLY a problem until the regular season comes closer. But, for an injury that was supposed to be slight, he isn’t getting better.

What worries me, at least a little bit, is that Chris Ivory’s history is to take a long time getting better. Look at his past. That has what it has been for him with his past injuries. Could this be his past coming back to haunt Chris again? The fact of the matter is, we don’t know.

I hope that it isn’t.