The Jets and Dolphins are among the teams pursuing running back Matt Forte, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport adds that Forte’s market will likely heat up once some of the other free agent backs in this year’s class sign deals.
A sneak peak at what Forte would look like in a Dolphins jersey, courtesy of @ProFootballRumors on Instagram.
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Forte would make plenty of sense for the Jets, who lost Chris Ivory to the Jaguars earlier today and could lose Bilal Powell to free agency with three rival teams in pursuit. The Dolphins, of course, could lose starting running back Lamar Miller to free agency and it has been long expected that they would consider Forte to fill the role. Earlier today, it was reported that the Texans are pushing hard to sign Miller.
Forte announced last month that he wouldn’t be returning to the Bears. In his 120 regular season contests with the Bears, Forte piled up 8,602 rushing yards and another 4,116 yards through the air, to go along with 64 total touchdowns. The 30-year-old earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods, including one in 2013, when he accumulated more than 1,900 total yards and 12 touchdowns, both career highs.
While Forte still managed to gain nearly 1,300 yards from scrimmage in 2015, rookie Jeremy Langford showed that he was capable of carrying the load for the Bears in three games the veteran missed due to injury. The Bears informed Forte that he will not be retained.