New York Jets will be sidelined two to three weeks with a strained groin, but is expected to be ready to play in the regular-season opener.
Coach Aaron Glenn was cautiously optimistic Monday after Hall caught a pass late in practice Monday, pulled up and fell to the rain-slicked grass. Glenn said Tuesday that tests confirmed that the injury isn’t serious and won’t sideline the Jets’ No. 1 running back for long.
鈥淜nowing how important he is for what we鈥檙e doing, it was really exciting to hear it,鈥� Glenn said.
The 25-year-old Hall is considered a key to New York鈥檚 offense and is coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season. Hall, a 2022 second-round draft pick from Iowa State, has 1,000 yards from scrimmage in three straight seasons, making him just the sixth player 鈥� and fifth running back 鈥� in franchise history to accomplish the feat.
He in the offseason worth up to $45.75 million and has said he wants to continue to prove that he’s one of the NFL’s top running backs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a relief,鈥� quarterback Geno Smith said of the prognosis for Hall. 鈥淲e need Breece and praying for a speedy recovery from him. He鈥檚 a big part of our offense and our team. He鈥檚 a leader on our team and on our offense, and so his presence is felt when he鈥檚 out there. So, we appreciate him and just hoping he comes back as soon as possible.鈥�
Without Hall, the Jets鈥� backfield will be a bit short-handed during the next few weeks. Isaiah Davis, a fifth-round pick in 2024, is also sidelined with a knee injury but is expected back before Week 1. Braelon Allen will assume the starting role, with Kene Nwangwu and undrafted rookies Sam Scott and Chip Trayanum the other running backs on New York鈥檚 roster.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to sit here and try to tell Braelon to do something out of the ordinary than what he鈥檚 been doing,鈥� Glenn said. 鈥淛ust run the ball, understand what your landmarks are, hit it up in there, and be Braelon.鈥�
Glenn said linebacker Mykal Walker is also expected out for two to three weeks with a calf injury, but is expected back in time for the Week 1 game at Tennessee on Sept. 13.
Geno Smith is feeling better, but uncertain to play at Pittsburgh
After sitting out the with a sore ankle, Geno Smith has practiced the past two days and says the swelling is 鈥済etting better.鈥� But it’s uncertain if he’ll play in the second preseason game Friday night at Pittsburgh.
鈥淚鈥檒l leave it up to Coach, but my job is to get ready and help this team get ready to be ready to play Week 1,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲henever I get the chance to play, as I’ve told you guys, I look forward to it. I鈥檒l also leave that up to Coach.鈥�
For now, though, Glenn is keeping that decision 鈥� if he’s even made it yet 鈥� to himself.
鈥淲e want to make sure that we get our guys ready for Week 1,鈥� Glenn said. 鈥淪o, whatever we have to do to be able to do that, that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e going to do. If it鈥檚 playing in this game because he feels up to it and he鈥檚 ready to go and he wants to be with the other guys, let鈥檚 go. If he鈥檚 not playing because we want to continue to be cautious in that situation, we鈥檒l do that.鈥�
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