Jets' Hall strains groin in practice, awaiting tests
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- Breece Hall went down on a swing pass in the red zone without being touched, limping to the sideline and heading to the locker room for examination under the medical tent.
- Aaron Glenn said "I don't think it was a big deal" but wants full evaluation before determining severity, while backup Braelon Allen admitted "My stomach dropped a little bit" upon seeing Hall go down.
- Hall, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract in May after receiving the franchise tag, rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards last season and is the centerpiece of new offensive coordinator Frank Reich's run-heavy scheme.
- The Jets' backfield depth is razor-thin: No. 3 back Isaiah Davis is sidelined with a minor knee injury expected to keep him out another week, leaving Allen and Kene Nwangwu as the top available runners ahead of two rookie free agents.
- Allen, coming off major knee surgery, looked explosive in the preseason opener with a 31-yard touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, saying "I think I'm faster and more explosive than ever."
- Quarterback Geno Smith practiced fully Monday after sitting out the preseason opener with a sore left ankle, though Glenn said of the injury: "I don't think it's totally gone."
- The Jets open the regular season in 27 days against the Tennessee Titans, and Glenn indicated the team will be "ultra-cautious" with Hall, who has missed only two games over the past three seasons and tore an ACL as a rookie in 2022.
Why it matters: Hall is the engine of a run-first offense installed by new coordinator Frank Reich, and the Jets have already been plagued by injuries at running back — their No. 3 back Isaiah Davis is also out. With the season opener 27 days away, even a minor strain leaves the team dangerously thin in the backfield, relying on a recovering Allen and considering a veteran addition.
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