The New York Jets came up short against the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL season opener. To make matters worse, they suffered a major casualty with running back Le'Veon Bell injuring his hamstring.
The Jets decided to let him continue playing until he was forced to exit during the third quarter. Head coach Adam Gase expressed some regret at not taking more precautions with Bell sooner, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY:
Adam Gase said he's "mad at myself" for letting Le'Veon Bell play in the second half after he obviously hurt his hamstring in the first half.
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) September 13, 2020
Le'Veon Bell's hamstring had been a point of emphasis during the offseason when he was sidelined during the team's scrimmage. Although they were able to resolve the issue ahead of the 2020 campaign, it has now been brought to light once again after he was forced to exit the 27-17 loss in Week 1.
Bell was not very effective, with the Jets offense struggling to find their rhythm against the staunch Bills defense. He finished with a mere 14 yards on six carries before suffering the injury while hauling in a 30-yard reception. Gase's comments indicate that the severity of the injury could potentially cause Bell to miss some time.
If Bell is sidelined, the onus will fall on running back Frank Gore to take over the ground game in his absence. He did not fare much better against the Bills after gaining 24 yards on six carries. Regardless, the veteran presence in the backfield should help serve as a stabilizing factor until they are back to full strength.
The schedule does not get much easier for the Jets as they prepare to host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.
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