Breece Hall’s promising rookie season came to a halt after he sustained an ACL tear in Denver on Oct. 23, 2022.
Fast forward nearly a calendar year, and the Jets running back downplayed the significance of returning to the Mile High City on Sunday when New York (1-3) visits the Broncos (1-3).
“It’s just another football game to me,” Hall said Wednesday. “It’s not that big of a deal.”
What is a big deal is Hall is averaging a robust 6.6 yards per carry while essentially sharing the workload with Dalvin Cook and Michael Carter. On Wednesday, Jets coach Robert Saleh said Hall is going to receive more snaps in a bid to ignite the team’s 30th-ranked offense (252.8 yards per game).
“From an opportunity standpoint, there is no pitch count with him anymore,” Saleh said Wednesday of Hall, who leads the team in carries (32) and rushing yards (210).
Hall rushed six times for 56 yards and added three catches for 13 yards last Sunday. However, the Jets dropped their third straight decision with a 23-20 setback to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Zach Wilson completed a career-high 28 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. Garrett Wilson matched a career-high with nine catches for 60 yards while Allen Lazard (61 yards) and tight end Tyler Conklin (58 yards) put forth their best performances of the season.
Russell Wilson tossed three touchdown passes for the second time in three weeks last Sunday, helping Denver overcome a 21-point deficit in the second half and record a 31-28 victory over the winless Chicago Bears.
“I feel like on game day, man, he’s on point. He knows exactly, decision-wise, what we’re thinking,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Russell Wilson. “I can’t think of situations where I’m sitting there looking at the iPad — I look at the pictures still — and wondering why. He’s locked in. He’s playing well.”
Denver rookie Jaleel McLaughlin stepped up in place of injured Javonte Williams (quad), totaling 104 scrimmage yards (72 rushing, 32 receiving) and a touchdown.
“He’s handled the workload each week when he’s been in,” Payton said of McLaughlin, a 5-foot-7 dynamo undrafted out of Youngstown State.
“I’m proud of how he is playing, and he is one of those guys who is constantly eager to learn. He played well on Sunday. He played really well.”
McLaughlin and fellow running back Samaje Perine could be in for an expanded role should Williams sit out against the Jets.
Williams joined linebacker Randy Gregory in failing to participate in practice on Wednesday. Multiple media outlets reported the Broncos are releasing Gregory, who was signed to a five-year, $70 million contract in 2022. Nik Bonitto is expected to start his second straight game in Gregory’s absence.
Broncos linebacker Baron Browning (knee) was ruled out for the game on Friday. Center Lloyd Cushenberry (quad), nose tackle Mike Purcell (ribs) and Javonte Williams were listed as questionable.
New York cornerbacks D.J. Reed (concussion) and Brandin Echols (hamstring) will miss the game, potentially giving an edge to Russell Wilson and his air attack. Jets linebacker Samuel Eguavoen (ankle), safety Jarrick Bernard-Converse (foot) and offensive tackles Carter Warren (shoulder) and Billy Turner (toe) were considered questionable.
–Field Level Media
