Braelon Allen Takes Lead Role in Practice as Breece Hall Deals with Quadriceps Issue
Breece Hall is recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained late in Sunday’s game at Detroit. Braelon Allen, the third-year running back wearing No. 0, has taken the majority of first-team reps at practice ahead of the New York Jets’ Week 4 game at Chicago, the team reported. The increased work positions Allen to carry the load if Hall cannot play Sunday.
Allen said he was concerned when Hall left the game against the Lions and added, “Just hope he is OK,” to team reporters. “I have always prepared like I am the lead guy,” Allen said. “Nothing really changes for me in terms of preparation or my mindset, anything like that. I have always prepared to be in that position,” he added.
Allen suffered a season-ending MCL sprain nearly one year ago in the Week 4 Monday night game at Miami. He told team reporter Eric Allen that recent moments during the week brought back memories of being locked in a brace and having to sleep on his back during rehab. He said those flashbacks made him appreciate where he is now. Allen stayed around the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center for much of the offseason, rehabbing his knee and bulking up.
Allen is listed at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds. In the season-opening victory at Tennessee he carried 10 times for 40 yards and had an apparent 23-yard touchdown run nullified by penalty. He added nine carries in games against the Packers and the Lions. The Jets selected Allen in the fourth round (No. 134 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin; he has totaled 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns with the team.
In three collegiate seasons, he rolled up 3,494 yards on 597 carries, a 5.9-yard average. As he approached the draft, some labeled him a battering ram who preferred not to be battered in pass protection, and Allen said he worked to change that. “I am prideful and I would say pass protection was not one of my weaknesses,” he said. With new offensive coordinator Frank Reich pushing for a vigorous rush attack behind an experienced offensive line, Allen said the competition with Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis throughout OTAs, minicamp and training camp has been healthy and motivating.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Braelon Allen’s physical profile, offseason work and limited but varied usage this season make him the logical next man up as the Jets await clarity on Breece Hall’s status. The team is emphasizing establishing the run under Frank Reich and an offensive line built to control the line of scrimmage, which should help ease a workload increase for Allen. His history of a significant knee injury a year ago makes prudent snap management and monitoring by the medical staff likely if he becomes the primary ball carrier.