FLORHAM PARK -- Jets running back Matt Forte continued to progress in his return from a hamstring injury during Tuesday's practice.

Forte participated in practice for just the third time in training camp. He participated in one practice early in camp, and also on Sunday. The Jets were off Monday. All three times, Forte has done only position drills, and no 11-on-11 team periods.

Forte, who was injured while working out before camp, said after Tuesday's practice that he "definitely" will be available for the Jets' Sept. 11 regular season opener against the Bengals. But he isn't sure if he will play in any preseason games. He said he hasn't spoken to the Jets' training staff about that yet.

"I'm feeling good," Forte said. "I'm just progressing week by week. I'll be out there soon. I do individual drills, and then I do a lot of conditioning stuff, to get back into football shape."

Forte said the Jets' trainers haven't told him exactly when he could fully return to practice. Forte said he doesn't want to push himself too quickly, lest he aggravate his hamstring. But he said he hasn't had any setbacks in his rehab.

"This is the most patience I've had to have with an injury," he said. "They've had to hold me back. A lot of times, they have to protect me from myself."

The Jets are playing it safe with Forte, who is 30 years old and has 2,035 career regular season carries on his body. He signed with the Jets this offseason.

"It's taken longer than expected," he said of his rehab. "Just because we're being super, super cautious about it. At this point, there's no reason to really rush back out there. I got a lot of reps in the offseason [during spring practices] and I know the offense. By watching in camp, I know it a lot more. It doesn't take that long to get back into it."

Forte almost certainly won't play in the Jets' second preseason game, Friday in Washington. The Jets have just one full practice, on Wednesday, before then.

Starters don't play in the fourth preseason game, so the only preseason playing opportunity for Forte likely would be Aug. 27 against the Giants.

Forte said it's not a huge deal if he doesn't play in any preseason games, though he would prefer to participate against the Giants.

"In the last five, six years, I never really played a ton in preseason," he said. "At this point, I feel like as long as I get some work in the third game, I'll be fine."

But if he doesn't play in any preseason games, Forte said he'll be OK, "as long as I'm out at practice. You're still getting movement of the defensive line and running through tackles. It's not tackling to the ground. But I've had enough of that."

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.