The Jets had a different look at running back on Sunday.
Rookie Zonovan “Bam” Knight made his NFL debut and impressed with 69 rushing yards on 14 carries and three more catches for 34 yards. Knight surely earned himself more opportunities with his performance.
“I think everyone saw Bam had some fresh legs,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said, “he was juicy as a runner, getting north and south. …. He gets north and south quick, so he’s a one-cut runner, which is kind of the staple of our scheme, and he played fast, he played physical, lot of effort to gain yards after contact. The thing for Bam, and it’s not to compare, everyone’s got their own unique running style, but Bam just getting north and south quick. They’re NFL runs where the O-line blocks it for two [yards], but you grind for four.”
Knight was active for the first time and James Robinson, the back the Jets traded for a month ago, was inactive. Saleh does not want to write off Robinson, but Knight was more effective Sunday.
“James’ story is not over, obviously, I said that after our game,” Saleh said. “It’s just a matter of getting north and south and not every run’s going to be perfect, not every run is going to go to the house, and just sticking his foot in the ground and getting vertical as quickly as possible and exploding through the line of scrimmage.”
The Jets may need both Knight and Robinson active Sunday. Michael Carter exited the Bears game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle. Saleh said it is a low-ankle sprain, so Carter has a chance to play this week. The Jets will know more when they begin practicing for the Vikings on Wednesday.
LB Chazz Surratt (hamstring), S Ashtyn Davis (hamstring) and OT Cedric Ogbuehi (groin) are all questionable this week, Saleh said. … Rookie OT Max Mitchell was not supposed to play much against the Bears, but when Ogbuehi went down in the first quarter, Mitchell played the rest of the game at right tackle. It was Mitchell’s first game since returning from injured reserve. The Jets also may be getting back OT George Fant (knee) back from IR. Fant began practicing last week. The Jets have three weeks from the time he started practicing to add him to the active roster.
