OCTOBER 5, 2020 • NEWYORKJETS.COM
KALEN BALLAGE
Jets Sign QB Mike White to Practice Squad, Release RB Kalen Ballage White Was on Active Roster for First 3 Games This Season
Time up in New York The Jets cut Ballage on Monday.
Impact Ballage made a handful of costly mistakes during last Thursday's loss to the Broncos, including a badly missed blocking assignment in the first half and a poor decision to stop ahead of the first-down marker just before the two-minute warning. His departure is also a likely hint that Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) could be activated off IR for Week 5.
OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Costly mistakes in Week 4 loss Ballage didn't record a carry and caught two of three targets for 11 yards in Thursday's 37-28 loss to the Broncos.
Impact Coach Adam Gase views Ballage as New York's best pass-catching option out of the backfield even though Ballage hasn't done much to earn that trust. He completely whiffed on his blocking assignment in pass protection in the first quarter but was bailed out when Sam Darnold broke out of a would-be sack and took off for a spectacular 46-yard rushing touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Ballage had just one man to beat for a first down with the Jets driving for a go-ahead field goal just before the two-minute warning, but he opted to trot out of bounds three yards before the marker, and the Jets went on to turn the ball over on downs. Despite those errors, Ballage will likely continue to see the field in passing situations as long as Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) remains sidelined.
OCTOBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Active as receiver in Sunday's loss Ballage rushed for eight yards on two carries and caught all five of his targets for 44 yards in Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Colts.
Impact With the Jets playing from behind most of the game, Ballage saw extra work as a receiving option for Sam Darnold and ended up leading the Jets in receptions while tying Chris Hogan in targets. With Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) not eligible to come off IR until Week 5, Ballage could continue to be the team's top passing-down back, although that role isn't likely to lead to consistent production in one of the NFL's weakest offenses.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Off Week 3 injury report Ballage (ribs) practiced fully Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Colts, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv reports.
Impact Ballage upgraded to a full practice after a pair of limited sessions, clearing him for the trip to Indianapolis. The third-string running back is unlikely to see the field much, though the Jets will need to get creative with their personnel groupings as the team could be down to as few as two healthy wide receivers.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Jets WRs Crowder, Perriman and RT Fant out vs. Colts
New York Jets wide receivers Jamison Crowder and Breshad Perriman have been ruled out for the team’s game at Indianapolis on Sunday because of injuriesSEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Limited in practice once more Ballage (ribs) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.
Impact The Jets didn't have any of the three backs on their active roster available for full work Thursday, as starter Frank Gore received a veteran's day off, while Ballage and La'Mical Perine (ankle) both had their reps capped. So long as Ballage is able to upgrade to full participation Friday, he'll stand a good chance at avoiding an injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Colts. In his Jets debut Week 2 versus the 49ers, Ballage played eight offensive snaps, carrying once for five yards and reeling in both of his targets for 12 yards.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Next up for banged-up Jets: 'Whoever's got a pulse'
New York Jets coach Adam Gase said it appears wide receiver Jamison Crowder won’t be ready to go at Indianapolis on SundaySEPTEMBER 24, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jets WRs Perriman, Crowder sit out practice with injuries
New York Jets wide receivers Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder sat out practice with injuries,SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dealing with rib injury Ballage (ribs) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Andrew Walker of the Colts' official site reports.
Impact Ballage got three touches in his Jets debut last week, but he apparently picked up a rib injury in that one, joining New York's lengthy injury report. Even if he suits up against the Colts on Sunday, Ballage is unlikely to play a significant role.
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
One carry in Week 2 Balalge rushed once for five yards and caught both of his targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the 49ers.
Impact Ballage was used sparingly after being signed by New York earlier this week. Even with all of the Jets' injuries, Ballage is unlikely to take on a significant role in Week 3 against the Colts.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Full circle for Jets' Gore with facing familiar foe in 49ers
Frank Gore took his first snap as a pro in what seems like a lifetime agoSEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scouting Jets running back Kalen Ballage Earlier this week, the Jets signed former Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage so we’re going to take an in-depth look at his strengths...
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • GANGGREENNATION.COM
Jets WR Crowder sits out practice, could miss 49ers game
The New York Jets’ struggling offense could be without wide receiver Jamison Crowder against the San Francisco 49ers on SundaySEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Links up with Jets The Jets signed Ballage (hamstring) on Tuesday.
Impact The Jets previously attempted to acquire Ballage from the Dolphins in late August, but the trade was voided after the running back failed his physical due to a hamstring injury. Miami later released Ballage, freeing him up to join New York now that he's seemingly healthy again. Ballage will step in to provide a healthy body behind Frank Gore, who now sits atop the Jets' backfield depth chart after Le'Veon Bell (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Rookie La'Mical Perine (ankle) -- when healthy -- also looms as a challenger for reps behind Gore, while practice-squad back Josh Adams could also be promoted to the active roster ahead of the Jets' Week 2 game against the 49ers. Even if Ballage emerges as the top complement to Gore this weekend, the 2018 fourth-round pick did little during his time with Miami to get excited about his prospects. Over his two seasons with the Dolphins, Ballage averaged 3.0 yards per carry on 110 attempts and hauled in 23 of 35 targets for 3.4 YPT.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Jets place RB Bell on IR with hamstring injury
The New York Jets will face the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers without Le’Veon BellSEPTEMBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cut loose by Miami Ballage (hamstring) and the Dolphins agreed to an injury settlment Sunday, Safid Deen and Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Impact Ballage, who had his trade to the Jets nullified after failing his physical due to a hamstring injury, will now be able to hit the open market. The 24-year-old saw action in 12 games with the Dolphins in 2019, carrying the ball 74 times for just 135 yards and three scores. He'll look to get healthy and find a depth role elsewhere around the league.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Staying in Miami for now Ballage has reverted back to the Dolphins after a hamstring injury led to a failed physical that nullified his trade to the Jets, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact The report notes that Ballage likely will be released and could later sign with the Jets. The trade was merely for a conditional late-round pick, one that may have depended on Ballage actually playing snaps for the Jets. It isn't clear the 2018 fourth-round pick will have a role with an NFL club this year.
AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Kalen Ballage trade complicates Jets' running back depth chart The Jets made a somewhat head-scratching move to bolster their running back depth on Tuesday, sending a conditional 2021 seventh-round draft...
AUGUST 28, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
The Splash Zone 8/28/20: Dolphins Trade Kalen Ballage To Jets Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last...
AUGUST 28, 2020 • THEPHINSIDER.COM
Jets acquire RB Ballage from Dolphins for 7th-round pick
The New York Jets acquired running back Kalen Ballage from the Miami Dolphins for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2021AUGUST 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
UPDATE: Miami Dolphins trade Kalen Ballage to the New York Jets It’s about time.
AUGUST 27, 2020 • THEPHINSIDER.COM
Report: Kalen Ballage Traded to Jets by Dolphins for Conditional Draft Pick The Miami Dolphins are trading running back Kalen Ballage to the New York Jets for a conditional late-round draft pick, according to NFL Net...
AUGUST 27, 2020 • BLEACHERREPORT.COM
Jets panic and trade for Kalen Ballage, giving Dolphins draft pick Kalen Ballage and his former head coach Adam Gase will be reunited once again with the New York Jets. Leave it to Adam Gase and the New Yor...
AUGUST 27, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM
Headed to New York The Dolphins plan to send Ballage to the Jets in exchange for a conditional late-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Impact Per the report, the Dolphins had planned to release Ballage, but the Jets made a subsequent offer and now the running back is poised to join a backfield that already includes Le'Veon Bell, Frank Gore and La'Mical Perine. In that context, there's not a clear path to carries for Ballage, but he is at least a player who coach Adam Gase is familiar with from the time the two worked together in Miami in 2018.
AUGUST 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
