Will the Jets RB Play in 2023?


Breece Hall was enjoying quite the ascension after Week 3 last season, increasing his rushing yardage numbers for the New York Jets in the next three games and looking like a 1,000-yard rusher. But his season ended with only 463 rushing yards and four touchdowns, as a torn ACL sidelined him after the Oct. 23 game vs. the Denver Broncos.

Will Hall be healthy by the time the Jets return to the field in 2023? And how will it impact the team moving forward, especially with former league and Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers now being inserted into this offense?

Latest Breece Hall Injury Update

Good news for the Jets: Hall just may “take flight,” after all.

Before the 2023 NFL Draft, Jets head coach Robert Saleh shared three words with the New York media that stretched to Jets fans:

“Breece looks fantastic.”

This is critically ideal for the Jets as they now place Rodgers behind center. He’ll have a backfield option who averaged 5.8 yards per carry prior to his injury. The veteran quarterback and four-time league MVP will need the luxury of having a spark in the backfield, especially on plays where he’s not required to take three to five steps back looking for Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, or another wide receiver.

As it is, the Jets’ ground production fell apart once Hall went down. Hall remained the leading rusher even after missing 10 games. But the Jets slumped to 51 total rushing yards in the week after Hall’s injury against the New England Patriots on Oct. 30.

MORE: FREE 2024 NFL Mock Draft Simulator 

And without Hall, the Jets never produced three straight games of 100 +yards as a team and ended the season producing no more than 76 yards during their late-season losing skid.

The Jets went on to finish 27th overall in total rushing yards and 21st in ground-based touchdowns (13 touchdowns total) to close out 2022.

However, even with Saleh’s enthusiastic wording, it’s not official that Hall will be with the team once training camp begins in late July, per ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini on Apr. 9.

“Training camp appears unlikely — he will use the time for continued rehab — but lost practice time in July and August shouldn’t matter much. The whole idea is to get him ready for Sept. 10,” Cimini wrote.

Who Are the Jets’ Options in Camp if Hall Isn’t Cleared?

Given the knee rehab process Hall has to complete before being cleared to play, the Jets went ahead and addressed their depth need in the backfield on the draft’s final day.

Falling to the fifth round was speedy Pittsburgh back Israel Abanikanda, who dropped to No. 143 overall. Abanikanda was listed as the sixth-best RB prospect by PFN’s Ian Cummings ahead of the draft.

Abanikanda has the speed to help compensate for Hall’s absence. He’s best known for being timed at 4.41 in his 40-yard dash during Pitt’s Pro Day. However, a healthy Hall linking up with Abanikanda gives the Jets a fellow speed option — as Hall was timed at 4.39 in his 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.

MORE: New York Jets 2023 NFL Draft Grades 

The Jets additionally have their trio of veteran options to turn to as Hall recovers. Michael Carter was last season’s second-leading rusher with 402 yards. Zonovan “Bam” Knight is the other remaining veteran on the roster, who started in four games and racked up 300 rushing yards. As for undrafted free agents, the Jets signed Travis Dye (USC) and Wayne Taulapapa (Washington) to help add more options in the RB room before camp.

Nevertheless, Hall’s “fantastic” recovery has Jets fans convinced the backfield will be flying once the season opener arrives — with Rodgers helping pilot this offense now.



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