Gators in NFL: Jets' Perine injures ankle in stadium practice

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets' once seemingly deep running back group is suddenly a bit short-handed.

Rookie fourth-rounder La'Mical Perine injured his left ankle during the team's practice at MetLife Stadium on Sunday and his status was uncertain.

Coach Adam Gase said Perine would have an MRI later in the day to evaluate the nature and severity. Perine, who was drafted out of Florida, took a screen pass from Mike White and gained a few yards before going down awkwardly on the tackle.

He stayed down for a few moments as trainers checked on him, but was able to walk on his own to the sideline — with a noticeable limp. Trainers continued to examine his ankle before calling for a cart to take him back to the locker room.

“Obviously, we're going to evaluate that,” Gase said. “We'll go through the whole MRI process.”

Perine has been having a solid camp, showing off good speed and power as a complement to Le'Veon Bell and Frank Gore in the backfield. Bell and Gore are the only healthy running backs on the team with Perine hurt and Josh Adams still recovering from a hamstring issue.

New York acquired Kalen Ballage from Miami on Thursday, but the running back failed his physical and reverted back to the Dolphins — voiding the trade. The Jets had sent a conditional seventh-rounder in 2021 to Miami in the deal. The sides could revisit a trade once Ballage is healthy — but New York still has just two healthy players in the backfield.

Another former UF standout, star safety Marcus Maye, also left the practice early with tightness in a calf. With Jamal Adams traded last month to Seattle, Maye is expected to be a major playmaker in the secondary. Gase didn't sound too concerned that Maye could miss any significant time.

"It was my decision to pull him out, and he wanted to keep practicing," the coach said. “But, there was no way we're going to allow him to continue with him feeling anything at that point.”

NOTES: RG Greg Van Roten did not participate in team drills while he recovers from an oblique injury. Jonotthan Harison (UF) and Josh Andrews worked in his place, rotating with the starters. ... Former UF CB Brian Poole (dehydration), OL Conor McDermott (knee), CB Pierre Desir (hamstring), S Matthias Farley (hamstring), LB Tarell Basham (ankle) and DL Jabari Zuniga (quadriceps) were among players who remained sidelined.