Matt Forte received his first NFL honor with his new team today when the Jets running back was awarded this week's FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week.
Forté churned out exactly 100 rushing yards on 30 carries, including scoring runs of 1, 4 and 12 yards, in the Jets' Thursday night 37-31 triumph at Buffalo. He became the eighth different Jets back to rush for three touchdowns in a game and the first to do it in a road game since Curtis Martin turned the trifecta at New England in 2000.
Although the FedEx Ground award focuses on rushing yards, Forté continued to show his multiplicity in the Jets offense with 9 yards on two receptions for his second game of 100-plus scrimmage yards. He now has 264 yards from scrimmage on 59 touches as a Jet following his eight superb seasons as the Bears' bellcow back.
With the award, $2,000 will be given to The USO in Forté's name.
Chris Ivory, who left for Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent, won the FedEx Ground award three times from 2013-15. Other Jets back who have won the award are Shonn Greene (2012), LaDainian Tomlinson (2010) and Martin (2004).
