The Jets are on the verge of getting healthier in the backfield, but that doesn’t mean Braelon Allen should fade into the background.
Breece Hall has put together three straight limited practices this week and looks set to return against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing time with the quad injury he suffered in the Week 3 game against the Detroit Lions. New York also appears close to getting left guard Dylan Parham back, another welcome boost after he went down in Detroit with a knee injury.
Parham’s absence mattered. Jordan Meredith filled in, but the drop-off was easy to see. Hall’s absence, though, barely registered because Allen took over and ran with the job.
That’s the part the Jets can’t overlook now that Hall is nearing a comeback. Allen has been one of the most effective backs in football while handling the lead role, and it’s fair to say he was more productive as New York’s featured runner than Hall was over the first three games of the season. A graph shared by RotoWire’s Ian Hartitz showed Allen stacking up with Kenneth Walker, Jaylen Warren, and Bijan Robinson in yards after contact and tackles avoided per carry.
Allen has earned more than a temporary fill-in label. At minimum, his workload should be split evenly when Hall returns.
That naturally leads to the bigger question: should the Jets trade Hall before the NFL’s deadline?
Probably not, unless someone comes in with a Day 2 draft pick. Moving him for something like a fourth-rounder wouldn’t be worth the loss in running back depth. And with next season likely centered around developing a young quarterback, the Jets should be thinking about giving that player as much offensive help as possible.
One less quality running back would work against that plan. The Jets should want to keep both Hall and Allen in the fold.
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Jets Showed Just Enough To Make This Loss Even More Frustrating
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Aaron Glenns defense could not hold up after halftime, and special teams under Chris Banjo added to the damage with a rough day that included a kick return touchdown allowed. Jarvis Brownlee also drew criticism for penalties and coverage issues, another reminder that the margin for error is razor thin for a team already digging out of a deep hole. [Read more 🡒]