With Ridley likely hitting PUP, Jets should unleash Ivory

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Despite a perceived need for a space back with the ability to catch passes and create big plays, the Jets elected to sign former Patriots running back Stevan Ridley to a one-year, $1.25 million contract this offseason. Ridley’s career numbers, including a 1,263-yard season in 2012, make the contract look like a steal, but the Jets got a discount thanks to the 26-year-old tearing his ACL last October.

While Ridley participated in May OTAs, non-contact practices aren’t a great measure of an injured runner’s health. Ridley himself said last weekend that he was unsure of his status for training camp, and reports came out a week later that it was reasonable for the runner to start the season on the PUP list, which would keep him sidelined for the first six games.

Luckily for the Jets, they didn’t sign Ridley to rely on him as a key part of their offense, especially not early in the season. Chris Ivory remains one of the most underrated running backs in the league, but a big reason for that is his own injury-prone nature. Despite that reputation, which was well-earned after playing just 12 games in his final two years with the Saints, Ivory has played in 31 of a possible 32 games since joining the Jets before the 2013 season.

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