CORTLAND — The star of the Green and White scrimmage was running back Bilal Powell.
With Chris Ivory and Joe McKnight injured and Mike Goodson still not in camp, Powell capitalized on his chance to run with the Jets’ first-team offense. He had six carries for 41 yards. He also scored a touchdown that was called back because of penalty.
“We know the kind of back he is,” head coach Rex Ryan said. “I think now, obviously, with the opportunity he’s been given, he’s really taking the reins.”
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Powell, the third-year back from Louisville, busted his first run for 24 yards. He also played as the main ball-handler in the team’s wildcat formation near the goal line. Powell rushed for 437 yards and four touchdowns on 110 carries last year as Shonn Greene’s backup.
Now, he is fighting for carries with Ivory, Goodson and McKnight, but all three are having trouble getting onto the field.
“I just want to come out, work hard every day and we’ll see how everything rolls out from there,” Powell said of the competition. “It’s out of my control. My thing is just to come in and put good things on film and allow the coaches to see what the roster or depth chart is.”
* The focus is on Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, but the quarterback who had the best night was Greg McElroy. He threw two touchdowns, a 48-yard pass to Ryan Spadola and a 70-yarder to Vidal Hazelton. He went 5-for-5 for 137 yards in the scrimmage, playing with the third-team offense.
“We know he can win games in this league coming off the bench,” Ryan said. “He proved that last year, albeit in a 7-6 masterpiece [against the Cardinals]. He’s a smart guy. You leave a guy open, he makes the throw.”
* Rookie Brian Winters started the game at left guard, but exited on the first drive with an ankle injury. Ryan said it’s not considered serious. … Calvin Pace, Ricky Sapp, Nick Bellore and Dawan Landry had sacks. … Billy Cundiff went 5-for-5 on field goals. Nick Folk was 2-for-3. … WR Santonio Holmes (foot), RB Ivory (hamstring), RB McKnight (head), TE Kellen Winslow (rest), WR Titus Ryan (hamstring), G Stephen Peterman (shoulder), C Dalton Freeman (ankle), WR Jordan White and WR Marcus Davis did not play. … McKnight hurt his head in Friday’s practice. Ryan said he did not know whether it was a concussion.