Matt Forte Injury: Jets RB Placed on IR with Nerve Issue in Shoulder

New York Jets running back Matt Forte said on Dec. 21 he is dealing with a "nerve issue" in his shoulder, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. 

Jets head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Friday that Forte would not play in Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. Cimini noted on Dec. 21 that Forte said "he won't play if he can't protect himself." 

The Jets announced that Forte was formally placed on the injured reserve on Friday, and defensive back Bryson Keeton was promoted to the active roster.

One of the greatest running backs in Chicago Bears history, Forte has experienced an inconsistent first year with the Jets. 

Through 14 games, he's recorded 813 rushing yards, 263 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns, but his 3.7 yards per carry is the second-worst mark in his career.

This season hasn't been without injury issues, either, thanks to a nagging torn meniscus.

Forte was brought on by the Jets, who were coming off a 10-6 season and narrowly missed the playoffs, in an attempt to add a strong veteran presence in the backfield who provided the dual threat of both rushing and catching passes out of the backfield.

At times, Forte added just that, posting four games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage. Yet there were other times when he struggled to hit the 60-yard plateau.

His underwhelming performance is just one of the numerous problems in 2016 as the Jets sit on a disastrous 4-11 record. 

Given the state of the team and with two games remaining, it was a smart decision to keep Forte on the sidelines. 

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