Bilal Powell, Jets, absent for the season with a neck injury and a career in danger

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Bilal Powell's season is over and maybe his career.

Todd Bowles said Powell's neck injury suffered on Sunday from the defeat against the Vikings would require surgery, which could end the career of the halfback.

Bowles said it was a record problem similar to what receiver Quincy Enunwa had suffered at training camp last year. Enunwa underwent surgery to repair a bulging disc in his neck and missed all of last season. Powell's injury "may be worse," said Bowles. The operation will determine if Powell can continue to play.

"Every time you lose a starter – one of the hardest workers on this team, Bilal – it's a blow from this point of view," Bowles said Wednesday. "But you worry more about the person who heals than the football player. So that's where we are. "

The Jets placed Powell in the injured reserve on Wednesday. Even if Powell is able to play again, his career in the Jets could be over. The longest-lived Jet, Powell will be an unrestricted free agent this season and may not have been re-signed.

A fourth-round pick in 2011, Powell ranks tenth on the Jets rider list with 3,446 yards. He has accumulated 343 yards in 80 runs and 11 assists for 110 yards and one touchdown this season.

"It's sad to see, just because BP is so respected in this locker room," quarterback Sam Darnold said. "He's a great guy to have on the team. As a player, he is also great. In general, it (it stinks) to see this happen to anyone. But especially BP, it's a little bad.

The Jets could consider acquiring a recoil before the trading deadline on Tuesday. But it does not make much sense to give up a draft for a rental. The Jets were filling the gaps in their wounded team by signing free agents.

To date, the Jets have Isaiah Crowell, who plays with a painful foot / ankle but he participated in training on Wednesday, and rookie Trenton Cannon for Sunday's game in Chicago.

The Jets could promote De'Angelo Henderson to the Insurance Practice Team. Elijah McGuire is in the injured reserve, but he trains with the team and can come back in the ninth week.

"It's okay," Bowles said. "We could try to find someone and bring it in or bring in someone from the training team. We will watch both. "

Injuries accumulated for the Jets.

They put Doug Middleton in the IR on Tuesday with a torn pectoral muscle that he suffered on Sunday. The Jets used Powell's line-up to deal with their devastated high school and signed the former Browns, Texans and Cowboys security teams, Ibraheim Campbell.

Security Marcus Maye missed the match last week with a broken thumb and was restricted to training on Wednesday. Bowles said Maye had run but still had not hit. Corner Trumaine Johnson has missed the last three games due to a quad injury and Buster Skrine, who did not play Sunday, remains in the concussion protocol.

In attack, Enunwa came out with a sprained ankle. The Jets signed receiver Rishard Matthews on Tuesday. They gave up Terrelle Pryor this weekend because of an injury to the groin that could set him aside a few weeks later. They used his rankings to promote Deontay Burnett within the coaching team.

The Spencer Long Center left Sunday's game and did not train on Monday because of knee and finger problems.

"Everyone loses the starters," said Bowles. "We are losing a little bit these days. But we have guys who can play and we'll upgrade them so they can play. "

Al Iannazzone has been covering the Knicks and the NBA for Newsday since January 2012 after taking the NBA for 11 years for The Record (N.J.). Al appeared regularly at the YES Network's pre-game Nets show in 2005-2011.