FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - New York Jets running back Matt Forte and defensive lineman Kony Ealy will miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns because of injuries.
Forte will be sidelined for the second straight game while recovering from turf toe. Bilal Powell is expected to get the start a week after he rushed for a career-high 163 yards against Jacksonville.
“Obviously, we try to run the ball every week,” coach Todd Bowles said of the running game without Forte. “We just have to see how the game goes, but we’ll try to establish it.”
Ealy has a shoulder injury and is coming off a big game in which he had an interception and four passes defensed. Bowles said he was uncertain as to whether Ealy could miss multiple games. When asked how serious the injury is, Bowles replied only: “He’s out.”
Bowles also ruled out cornerback Darryl Roberts (hamstring) and linebacker Josh Martin (ankle). Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder) and cornerback Juston Burris (foot) are questionable.
Burris was injured during practice on Thursday.
Wide receiver Robby Anderson returned to practice after being excused Wednesday and Thursday for personal reasons. He practiced fully on Friday and will play against the Browns.
Second-year receiver Jalin Marshall is eligible to be activated to play after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancers. He practiced all week, but Bowles wouldn’t say if Marshall would suit up against the Browns.
“We’ll discuss it,” Bowles said. “We have a little bit of time left and we’ll discuss it as it comes.”
Marshall, an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, caught 14 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games as a rookie last year.
“He’s just getting his feet wet running,” Bowles said. “He has a good understanding of where we are, but he still has to get in a little bit of shape.”
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