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EAST RUTHERFORD If things had worked out the way they were supposed to for the New York Jets, Frank Gore wouldnt have started a single game for them this season.

But a hamstring injury to LeVeon Bell in the season-opener changed things. And when the Jets host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, theyll be relying on Gore to carry most of the running load against one of the best defenses in the NFL. And the 37-year-old expects to deliver.

I always prepared like I was the guy, just because you never know what happens in this league, said Gore, who is in his 16th NFL season. Thats why I go out every day on the practice field and prepare like I do. If my number gets called, I want to be ready.

It feels almost fitting that Gore will get this opportunity against his former team, the 49ers.

Gore has found a place among the greatest running backs in NFL history with a combination of durability and relentlessness. It all started with the 49ers in 2005, where he spent the first 10 years of his career.

Gore still has love for the 49ers. His profile picture on Twitter is a red and gold No. 74, with the 49ers logo on it, honoring the retirement of Joe Staley, the offensive tackle who spent so many years blocking for Gore.

Gore said this weekend that he plans to retire with the 49ers if he ever does decide to retire.

New York Jets running back Frank Gore (21) looks on prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium.[RICH BARNES/USA TODAY SPORTS](Photo: Rich Barnes, Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports)

But when he takes the field at MetLife Stadium, Gore will put all those feelings to the side and do everything in his power to beat his former team.

I want to win, Gore said. Especially with us coming off a loss last week. I want us to look a lot better than last week, as an offense, as a team. And thats doing whatever it takes to win. It could be the 49ers, Seattle, whatever. I just want to get a win.

The 49ers will surely be doing all they can to make it a difficult day for Gore, too. But what Gore was able to accomplish with the 49ers he had his best seasons in San Francisco, including all five of his Pro Bowl selections still lingers more than six years after he last played for the organization.

"I love Frank Gore, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters as he prepared to play the Jets. I think he's one of the best running backs to ever play. I think he's one of the more underrated running backs to ever play. His longevity and his numbers now have finally given him a little bit more attention that is past due.

Gore passed Barry Sanders last fall, becoming the third-leading rusher in NFL history. He trails only Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith. Shanahan never coached him in San Francisco. But as a young quality control coach for the Buccaneers, Shanahan remembers watching Gores film from the University of Miami, and what he saw in 2004 left an impression even before Gore started marching toward history.

FILE - In this Dec. 18, 2005, file photo, San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore, left, is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defender Mike Peterson, right, during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Gore took his first NFL snaps as a pro with the 49ers in 2005 in what seems like a lifetime ago for the NFL's third-leading rusher. It all comes full circle for the 37-year-old Gore on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, when his New York Jets host the team with which he began his career 16 years ago. (AP Photo/Phil Coale, File)(Photo: The Associated Press)

My first year in the league I remember watching his [film] in Tampa, just coming out of Miami just studying him, Shanahan said. I loved him then, I loved him every year. He runs so hard. The guys that run that hard very rarely can play to his age, which just shows how dedicated he is, how much of a football player he is and obviously extremely talented, but he's a special dude."

Relentlessness is one of the things that makes Gore special. Hes never liked sitting out preseason games. And at age 37, hes not particularly thrilled with the weekly maintenance plan that has him sitting out every Thursday practice as a rest day.

Jets coach Adam Gase has been a vocal supporter of Gore since he had the chance to coach him with the Dolphins in 2018. And while hell be mindful of Gores carries on Sunday, hell also knows that keeping his workload down will be easier said than done.

I have an idea, Gase said. But last time I had an idea, it just went a little sideways and we [the Dolphins] were playing Chicago, next thing I know he looked like he lost about 15 pounds in that game. I try to be smart as far as managing his carries and his reps, trying to get those other guys involved and then at the same time, you know, Frank likes to get in a rhythm so he wont like standing over there too long.

Gore had 15 carries for 101 yards for the Dolphins against the Bears that day, his 44th career game with 100 or more yards. He had his 45th and most recent 100-plus-yard last year with te Bills, going for 109 yards on 17 carries. If the Jets hope to beat the 49ers, it would help a lot of Gore could eclipse 100 yards for the 46th time in his career.

The Jets announced Saturdaythat they have signed linebacker Alec Ogletree from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game. They also elevated two players to the active roster: running back Josh Adams and wide receiver Josh Malone.

Ogletree has started all 93 games he's appeared in during a seven-year NFL career, including 13 last year with the Giants. He was added to the Jets' practice squad in earlier this month and wasn't on the roster for the season-opener in Buffalo. It's unclear what role he'll play with the Jets, but he could start.

Avery Williamson ramped up his practice this week, but it's unclear if he'll be able to play after missing Week 1 with a hamstring injury. Ogletree and Neville Hewitt are the only healthy inside linebackers on the roster.

Adams and Malone have now both been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the second time, and will be able to return to the practice squad without passing through waivers -- one ofthe rule changes for playing this season during the pandemic.

But if the Jets want either on the active roster for a third time later this season, they won't be able to elevate them: they'll have to sign them to a player contract and they'll have to pass through waivers to return to the practice squad.

Andy Vasquezis the Jetsbeat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Jets analysis, news, trades and more, pleasesubscribe todayanddownload our app.

Email:vasqueza@northjersey.comTwitter:@andy_vasquez

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NY Jets' Frank Gore, 37, gets a chance to prove he's still got it on Sunday vs. 49ers - NorthJersey.com

This entry was posted on September 20, 2020 at 7:58 am and is filed under Longevity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |