New York Jets: Le’Veon Bell may miss Sunday’s game with an illness

New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell may be forced to miss this Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins with an illness that has kept him from practicing.

The New York Jets have struggled to remain healthy as a team this season and running back Le’Veon Bell may join the long list of Jets players to miss time this season.

Only Bell isn’t injured — he’s sick.

The Jets have been down this road already in 2019. Quarterback Sam Darnold infamously missed three games earlier in the year after coming down with a case of mononucleosis. Bell’s illness isn’t as severe as “mono,” but it has kept him out of commission.

Bell originally popped up on the injury report on Thursday after he was forced to miss practice with the reported illness and he was sent home from the team facility again on Friday after it was deemed that he was unfit to participate.

And Bell isn’t the only Jets player dealing with an illness right now.

Both tight end Ryan Griffin and cornerback Maurice Canady were limited in practice on Thursday while listed on the injury report as suffering from an illness.

More from The Jet Press

• NY Jets: Jonnu Smith would be a smart free-agent target
• NY Jets: 3 non-quarterback trade targets on offense
• NY Jets expected to be ‘much more aggressive’ in free agency this year
• NY Jets: Patriots will not use the franchise tag on Joe Thuney
• NY Jets officially place the franchise tag on safety Marcus Maye

For a Jets team that has encountered more misfortune and hardship in one season than most teams encounter in a decade, this is just another feather in the cap of what has been a truly disastrous 2019.

The only solace the Jets could take is the fact that they aren’t the only team currently dealing with health concerns. Both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks have struggled with sick players as of late with the former even opting to travel using two separate planes.

Head coach Adam Gase told reporters on Friday that Bell’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins was uncertain but that the team would have a better idea on Saturday.

If Bell can’t go, expect a heavy dosage of both Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery with some Josh Adams — who was a healthy scratch last week — as well. Powell has seen an uptick in snaps over the past few weeks and continues to play well.

And he would be given a golden opportunity to add to his impressive stretch with a matchup with the 31st-ranked run defense looming.

The Dolphins have surrendered under 100 rushing yards just three times this season and teams have averaged 136 rushing yards per game against them over the last three weeks.

The Jets will hold their breath that Bell will be able to play this Sunday but Gase has indicated that the team is preparing for his absence in case he cannot go.

Misfortune continues to be the theme of the Jets’ 2019 season and Le’Veon Bell’s illness is only another chapter in the never-ending story of adversity.