Jets set to replace Chris Ivory with Matt Forte

The New York Jets faithful felt a little better about losing running back Chris Ivory, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wednesday afternoon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported running back Matt Forte would be signing with Gang Green, reuniting the former Chicago Bear with receiver Brandon Marshall.

Forte has lots of wear on his tires, but it still eases the tension a bit for New York--which apparently is still looking to bring back Bilal Powell if possible.

Via ESPN.com:

Forte leads the NFL in all-purpose yards (12,718) since he entered the league in 2008, but the Bears informed the 30-year-old running back in February that they would not offer him a contract to return. 

Despite missing three games in 2015 with an MCL sprain, Forte still rushed for a team-high 898 yards while catching 44 passes for 398 yards.

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Now-former Jets tailback Chris Ivory to sign with Jags

Chris Ivory is a goner. At least in terms of the New York Jets.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ivory will sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars when the free agency period opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Multiple beat reporters confirmed the report, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says Ivory's contract is "well above" $6 million per year.

Perhaps it was time for Gang Green to move on from the soon-to-be 28-year-old tailback, but now getting running back Bilal Powell locked up may be a heightened priority.

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Jets back on the run as streak continues

The New York Jets have the NFL's best rushing defense. Sunday, the team found success in that category on the other side of the ball.

Chris Ivory totaled 101 yards on 22 carries in the win over the Tennessee Titans, setting his career high in rushing yards (914). Bilal Powell pitched in with 36 yards on three rushes, and he also amassed 46 yards receiving--including another score.

Stevan Ridley got in on the action with 23 yards on the ground, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick again showed his legs with a 19-yard scamper.

Gang Green has actually been making its way through the air on their three-game win streak, but the team will need a balanced attack moving through the final stretch of the season. They looked the part Sunday.

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Chris Ivory in line for bigger share of Jets' carries

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said Tuesday that "hopefully it's a matter of time" before tailback Chris Johnson gets going.

But for now, Ryan already has a running back who is going.

The quicker-than-advertised power back Chris Ivory has been an absolute battering ram this season and is clearly the better hand in the Jets' one-two punch. Ivory tallied 44 yards on 10 carries and hauled in four catches for 52 yards in Gang Green's loss to the Chicago Bears Monday night.

Jets give peek at a double-Chris offensive backfield

BY NICK ST. DENIS

If all goes as planned, the New York Jets will boast a versatile one-two punch in the running game in 2014 with Chris Johnson handling the speed and Chris Ivory the power.

It was assumed that would be the deal on a play-by-play basis. Saturday, Gang Green put a little twist into that thinking.

During the team's annual Green and White Scrimmage, Johnson and Ivory took the field a few times--at the same time, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Ivory likely to get the keys close to the end zone

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New York Jets running backs coach Anthony Lynn said Monday that short-yardage backs don't necessarily have to be of the power variety, because “some guys have that unique ability to get skinny in a hole, find a soft spot."

That may be true, but at the moment, the power guy is the leading candidate to take the bulk of Gang Green's goal line attempts this coming season.

“If we were playing tomorrow, Chris Ivory would be on the goal line, obviously,” Lynn said, via the NY Daily News. “Sometimes in those situations you have an extra defender that you can’t block, and you need a back that can take him on.”

Ivory says Jets' tailbacks 'all bring something different'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New York Jets had the bruiser in Chris Ivory and the all-purpose back in Bilal Powell.

In adding the speedster Chris Johnson, Gang Green has a well-rounded tandem in the backfield--something the team's leading rusher from a season ago looks forward to working in.

“We all bring something different, so as far as complements, it just depends on the team and the scheme that they have for the guys," Ivory said earlier this week, via Newsday.

Rex hasn't made any promises to new tailback Johnson

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Chris Johnson is guaranteed an opportunity. The carries, he'll have to earn.

"Nothing was ever promised, you know, that you’re going to get X amount of carries and all that kind of stuff," New York Jets coach Rex Ryan said Monday of his team's latest acquisition, via the NY Post.

". . . We’re going to have to compete for roles. No role has definitely been determined for really almost anybody on this football team."

Colon says Jets feed off of Ivory's swagger

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Chris Ivory runs hard and with attitude. His teammates have taken notice.

Ivory is averaging 5.7 yards a carry over his past five games, with most of those yards of the tough variety. Ivory isn't much for running around defenders. He'd rather run through them.

"Chris gives 110 percent in everything he does," Jets guard Willie Colon said after the Jets' victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday, via NewYorkJets.com. "We believe in him. When he gets going, he gives us momentum. He's huge for us.

Rex not buying Ivory's 'just another game' facade

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Just as he has all week, Chris Ivory said Sunday evening that he approached the New York Jets' Week 9 bout with his former team, the New Orleans Saints, "like just another game."

If Ivory truly was indifferent Sunday, it didn't look like it.

The bruising Gang Green tailback ran with attitude and conviction on his way to an 18-carry, 139-yard showing, capping it off with a touchdown run and an upset victory.

Ivory had 'hot hand' in Jets' win over Patriots

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Chris Ivory hadn't gotten a ton of work through six weeks this year, thanks partly to an ailing hamstring but mostly to the success of fellow New York Jets tailback Bilal Powell.

Ivory got his Sunday.

The Jets ran the ball 52 times in a 30-27 victory over the New England Patriots, with 34 of those touches going to Ivory. Powell, who had been the Jets' primary back through the first part of the season, carried the ball just three times.

Pats prepping for Jets' expansive ground game

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

The New York Jets have had some legitimate setbacks to their running back corps this season, but it hasn't seem to throw off the game plan much, if at all.

Gang Green has averaged 115 yards per game thus far, and they're doing it with a multitude of looks from the backfield. Whether it's in the Wildcat, split-back, shotgun triple, read-option or traditional single back, the ground game has gained 4.2 yards per carry.

And with an average of 44 percent of their offensive plays coming on the ground, teams can continue to expect it in large doses.

Rex says Powell 'earned the right to start'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Chris Ivory was the assumed starting running back the second the New York Jets traded for him in April.

Bilal Powell, meanwhile, was the starter all along.

Powell, the only returning tailback still on the team's roster, was the No. 1 on the team's initial 2013 depth chart, and he's held that position since. Powell is listed as the Jets' top running back heading into Gang Green's Week 1 match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

State of Jets' tailback corps a little clearer

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Joe McKnight saw his fate. Mike Goodson probably did, too.

Hours after McKnight was released from the New York Jets Monday, the NFL announced Goodson will serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

But unlike McKnight, Goodson remained a Jet through the day.

Chris Ivory: 'I wouldn't want to tackle me'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Chris Ivory is gearing up for his first game as a New York Jet Saturday night, and he thinks opposing defenders had better gear up for him.

"I wouldn't want to tackle me," Ivory told ESPN New York this week.

Ivory is probably right, when he's healthy. The 6-foot, 222-pound bruiser was very productive in spot time with the New Orleans Saints but never played a full 16-game schedule.

According to Pro Football Focus, Ivory averaged 4.7 yards after contact per rush in 2012.

New Jets running back Chris Ivory: 'It's my time'

BY NICK ST. DENIS

All Chris Ivory wants is an opportunity, and now that he's out of the New Orleans Saints' crowded backfield and into the New York Jets' thin tailback corps, he'll get one.

After drafting quarterback Geno Smith in the second round and a guard in the third, Gang Green added a third offensive piece by trading their fourth-round pick to the Saints to acquire Ivory's services. (photo: Mark Runyon | Football Schedule)

Ivory wasted no time getting himself fired up for his shot at a top tailback gig.