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Veteran running back Bilal Powell, currently a free agent, has fully recovered from a neck injury that once seemed poised to end his career, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Long-time #Jets RB & now FA Bilal Powell was fully cleared from a neck injury that was once thought to threaten his career, teams were informed in a letter. Powell, who averaged 4.3 yards per rush last year, is healthy & says he’s “really looking forward to getting back to work.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 8, 2019
Powell, then with the New York Jets, suffered the injury in his team's 37-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 last season. He was placed on injured reserve three days later. Though the injury was initially thought to be potentially career-ending, Jets coach Todd Bowles, since fired, said after Powell had surgery to address a bulging disc in his neck that he was expected to make a full recovery.
Still, it comes as a surprise that Powell has already been cleared for full football activities and is ready to sign with interested teams. His first recovery timeline was placed at 10 to 12 months; barely more than half that amount of time has elapsed since he was injured.
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Powell, 30, has spent the entirety of his eight-year career with the Jets. His future with the team was uncertain at the beginning of free agency, but it became clear he wouldn't be returning to New York once Le'Veon Bell signed a record deal with Gang Green in March.
A fourth-round pick in 2011, Powell has been a valuable change-of-pace back with Jets since his sophomore season. He notched career-highs across the board in 2017 with 178 rushes for 772 yards and five touchdowns, and also has 204 total catches for his career, an indication of his value as a third-down back.
Expect Powell to be signed relatively soon, and if he quickly re-acclimates to the speed of the NFL game, to make a roster heading into the regular season.
