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General manager Joe Douglas executed a deal to acquire running back James Robinson as insurance the day after explosive rookie rushing back Breece Hall was lost for the season with a knee injury.
As it turns out, Douglas may have been a touch too hasty to trade a conditional fifth-round selection for the former Jaguars running back. With all due respect to Robinson, his absence from the Jets’ 31-10 victory over the Bears at MetLife Stadium on Sunday was not missed.
Not with rookie Zonovan Knight rushing for 69 yards on 14 runs and seldom-used Ty Johnson rushing for 62 yards on five carries, including a touchdown run of 32 yards.
These two players were on the roster prior to the acquisition of Robinson. And it’s likely that both will be prominent when the Jets play in Minnesota next Sunday.
It was quite unexpected to see Robinson on the inactive list, allowing Knight to make his debut.
Knight has been performing admirably, according to Jets head coach Robert Saleh. “From a running style perspective, I believe everyone saw a single cut, get vertical. Over the preceding several weeks, I thought that the run game had a great deal of potential. We felt if we could just get vertical and begin moving. James is still in the process of learning our system. There are still certain things with which he is becoming accustomed. No one has witnessed his final appearance.
“I figured this would be a good chance for a change of pace with Bam, who gets vertical really quickly.”
Jets running back Zonovan Knight carries the ball against the Bears.
Knight described the chance as “a godsend.” As a result of Michael Carter’s ankle injury, he was afforded extra opportunities.
Knight stated, “I didn’t even realize he was out.” “I wondered why I kept returning to that location. I’m delighted I was able to take advantage of those possibilities and play because I believe that everything occurs for a purpose.
Knight stated that he gradually received indications over the week that he would play in the game.
“[Running backs coach Taylor] Embree told me there was a potential I might be promoted this week, but I didn’t find out until Wednesday,” he said. Even then, he stated that it was not a done deal. So, I didn’t know for sure until [Saturday] after the walk-through, when he told me, “You’re good, you’ll be up”
Left guard for the Jets, Laken Tomlinson, stated that Knight’s “good energy is contagious.”
Johnson, who started the game with just nine carries for 30 yards, was the most ecstatic for Knight.
Everyone desires each other’s success, said Johnson. “Everyone within has the opportunity to eat, and when one eats, we all eat.”
Ty Johnson scores a touchdown against the Bears after stepping the ball high into the end zone.
William Kostrou
Johnson called Knight “a damned hound.”
Johnson stated, “Man, he did his job, he works hard, he arrives early, and he asks the appropriate questions.”
Regarding his 32-yard touchdown, which was his first since last season and gave the Jets a 31-10 lead, Johnson complimented left tackle Duane Brown and receiver Denzel Mims with blocking his path.
“Then I broke an arm tackle and thought, ‘I’m so close, I have to go there,’” he explained. This year I haven’t played much, so it felt amazing.
Brown remarked, “I knew he would be difficult to tackle once he reached the second level. He constantly has something to prove. This is his running style, he has this attitude.
»Zonovan Knight and Ty Johnson excel despite the Jets’ deficiency at running back«