New York Jets running back Isaiah Crowell, who aggravated a toe injury last Sunday that left him in “excruciating” pain, was placed on injured reserve Friday the team announced. His season is over.
Crowell, who has rushed for a team-high 686 yards and six touchdowns, battled the injury for several weeks. On Thursday, coach Todd Bowles announced Crowell was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans – the first missed game in his career. He had played in 77 straight.
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Crowell’s first, and perhaps last season with the Jets will be remembered for two games. On Oct. 7, he rushed for a franchise record 219 yards against the Denver Broncos. He needed only 15 carries, as he averaged 14.6 yards per rush.
Two weeks earlier, Crowell drew criticism and a stern rebuke from Bowles after celebrating a touchdown by pretending to wipe his rear end with the ball. He was fined by the NFL, but he parlayed the moment into an endorsement for a company that sells a toilet paper substitute for men.
Crowell is no lock to return in 2019. He signed a three-year, $12 million contract in free agency, but he can be released with minimal salary-cap implications. The Jets can save $3 million by cutting him, taking a $2 million cap hit for 2019.