NEW YORK — New York Jets Coach Todd Bowles was hospitalized Friday with what the team called an “undisclosed illness,” and he did not travel for the game at New England on Saturday.

In a statement posted on the team’s website, the Jets said Bowles was in stable condition, but it was uncertain if he would eventually join the team in time for the game.

The 53-year-old Bowles fell ill early Friday afternoon and was taken to the hospital, where General Manager Mike Maccagnan visited him. Maccagnan has remained in constant contact with Bowles, who wants to coach the game but will need to be cleared by doctors.

If Bowles is unavailable to coach, assistant head coach Mike Caldwell will fill in against the Patriots. Caldwell, who played linebacker for 11 seasons in the NFL, also serves as New York’s inside linebackers coach.

Caldwell ran the Jets’ walkthrough practice while Bowles was hospitalized. He was informed during the team’s flight to the Boston area that he would be the head coach if Bowles can’t make it to the game.

Bowles is in his second season as coach of the Jets. He got his tenure off to a promising start with a 10-6 season that finished a win shy of a playoff appearance.

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But New York has struggled to a 4-10 mark this season, prompting questions about Bowles’ future as the Jets failed to make the postseason for the sixth straight year.

Bowles has maintained a low-key, even-keeled approach in public despite callings for his job from some fans in media in recent weeks.

“When I signed the contract, I knew what my job status was and I’m not worried about that,” he said earlier this month. “I’m going to do the same thing and keep grinding like I always do.”

This is the second health-related situation Bowles has dealt with since coming to the Jets. In February, he had a benign golf ball-sized mass removed from his throat that was initially discovered during the season and didn’t require any additional surgery.

Jets running back Matt Forte is doubtful to play against New England because of knee and shoulder injuries.

Forte has a torn meniscus in his right knee, which he played through last week against Miami, but he also injured a shoulder during the game.

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The 31-year-old running back didn’t practice all week.

BRONCOS: Denver will be without its top two tight ends and its leading tackler Sunday.

The Broncos (8-6) could see their playoff hopes evaporate with a loss at Kansas City. Winning there will be harder without safety T.J. Ward, who leads the team with 87 tackles, and tight ends A.J. Derby and Virgil Green. All have concussions.

VIKINGS: Running back Adrian Peterson will not play Saturday at Green Bay because of knee and groin injuries.

Peterson played against the Colts last weekend – his first game in three months after knee surgery – and rushed for 22 yards on six carries.

CARDINALS: Arizona placed Tyrann Mathieu on injured reserve, the third time the do-everything defensive back has finished the year on the injury list in his four NFL seasons.

Mathieu had been trying to play through a shoulder injury.

STEELERS: Wide receiver Sammie Coates and tight end Ladarius Green were listed as doubtful to play against Baltimore on Sunday.

Coates, who has played through two broken fingers this season, tweaked his hamstring in practice Thursday. Green did not practice this week after being placed in the concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit in last weekend’s victory over Cincinnati.


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