The Jets will get back a crucial piece Sunday in Miami as they try to revitalize a floundering rushing attack.
Running back Bilal Powell _ who missed last week's loss to the Patriots after suffering a strained calf in the Jets' Week 5 win at Cleveland _ returned to practice fully Thursday in Florham Park. He will be active this weekend at the Dolphins, according to Todd Bowles.
"It'll give us another healthy body," Bowles said. "So hopefully we can make some plays."
With Powell coming back, the Jets will have their full roster of running backs for the first time since Week 3, when starter Matt Forte sustained turf toe. Forte missed two games before returning last week against the Patriots, just in time for Powell's absence.
Powell hurt his calf late in the first half against the Browns when he was dragged to the ground by two defenders. He didn't play in the second half. Rookie Elijah McGuire is the only Jet running back who's been healthy for all six games.
"You see what he can do out there _ (not just) in the passing game, but in the running game," Forte said of Powell, who ran for a career-high 163 yards in a Week 4 overtime win over the Jaguars. "He has a different style of running, but great vision and explosiveness. So it brings another threat to our running game."
At this point, the Jets need as many running threats as they can get. After breaking out for 256 rushing yards against the Jags, the Jets have mustered just 108 yards combined in the past two weeks. Perhaps more telling: They averaged just 2.57 yards per carry in those two games.
The task doesn't get any easier this weekend. The Jets face a Dolphins run defense that ranks sixth in league, allowing 3.5 yards per carry this season.
"It's going to be tough, especially at their place," Bowles said. "They play the run very well and they play it with a seven- or eight-man box. So either way, we're just going to have to grind it out and hope we can break something late."
