Former New York Jets running back made an announcement Tuesday night: he’s ready and willing if an NFL team calls him.
Just in case there was any confusion, Bilal Powell just cleared it up for the world.
On Tuesday night, the former New York Jets running back made one thing crystal clear: he’s ready and willing to return to the game he loves if an organization would simply pick up the phone and call.
I wanted EVERYONE to know I’m healthy and ready for a call. 💪🏾
— Bilal Powell (@bilalpowell29) September 2, 2020
“I wanted EVERYONE to know I’m healthy and ready for a call,” Powell tweeted.
Powell, 31, played nine seasons in New York. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, the Louisville product currently finds himself unemployed after Joe Douglas and the Jets did not come calling this past offseason.
The long-time Jet rushed for 229 yards on 59 attempts a year ago (3.9 yards per carry) in 13 games. Stuck behind Le’Veon Bell and Ty Montgomery, Powell provided veteran leadership and a third back for Adam Gase’s offense.
Rumors surrounding a possible Jets-Powell reunion really ramped up Monday evening with SNY’s Jonas Schwartz told the world Powell would be willing to return to the NFL if a team called him.
With #Jets very thin at RB a source close to @bilalpowell29 tells me he is “fully healthy and ready for a call!”
And by a source close to Bilal I mean Bilal himself.
— Jonas Schwartz (@Jonas_Schwartz1) August 31, 2020
A day later, Powell confirmed the message.
Of course, this would not be a topic of conversation if young La’Mical Perine did not go down with an ankle injury during Sunday’s Green & White scrimmage at MetLife Stadium. The Jets may have escaped what looked like a serious injury at first glance with a lower ankle sprain that won’t cause the kid too much trouble.
Aside from Bell and the ageless one, Frank Gore, there is not much on the depth chart at the position. Monmouth standout Pete Guerriero was re-signed Tuesday and Josh Adams returned to practice, which puts the Jets back at four total backs.
For now, Bilal Powell will have to wait by the phone. But based on his play in 2019, at least one NFL team will pick up the phone once the injuries begin to mount.
