The Jets may have to lean on Braelon Allen this weekend, and the rookie sounds ready for the assignment.
Breece Hall’s status for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears was still uncertain as of Thursday, leaving New York to prepare for a backfield that could look different than planned. That matters because the Jets are staring at a Bears team that can hurt you even if Caleb Williams doesn’t suit up. New York can’t afford a sloppy outing on either side of the ball, especially with injuries in the mix.
The good news for the Jets is that they do have options behind Hall. Allen is the one who figures to handle most of the carries, and he didn’t sound like a player waiting around to be told he was the guy.
"I've always prepared like I was going to be the lead guy," Allen said on Wednesday, per the team.
He also pointed to the extra responsibility that has already been on his plate this season.
"I think this year, Coach Frank [Reich] and [RB] Coach Nick [McKissic] put a lot of trust in me to be on the field. A lot of third-down situations and being able to put my pass protection skills on tape and being able to catch the ball a little bit more, and so there was already a little bit more on my plate than had been in the past few years.
So honestly, nothing really changes for me in terms of preparation or my mindset. I've always prepared to be in that position."
Allen also praised Isaiah, saying, "Isaiah's a very, very trustworthy player, and he was picking up the slack when I was out [with a knee injury] last year."
That kind of confidence has shown up in the way the Jets are handling injuries this season, and it’s a positive sign for a team that may need next-man-up production on Sunday.
The challenge is that Allen’s own numbers have been modest so far. He has rushed for 61 yards on 19 carries, averaging 3.2 yards per attempt with one touchdown. His longest run of the season is just nine yards.
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