Aaron Glenn’s promise to Breece Hall looks emptier by the week

New York Jets head coach made a promise to both Breece Hall and his team prior to his first season with the organization. Glenn told reporters this summer that the Jets planned to "unlock" Hall in 2025, emphasizing his ability to contribute both as a runner and receiver.

In fact, the Jets made it a point of emphasis to insist how the previous regime was unable to fully tap into Hall's talents, promising that they would maximize his ability in the passing game.

But now, seven weeks into the season, Glenn’s promise feels more like hollow coachspeak than an actual offensive plan. What was supposed to be a feature of the Jets’ attack has become an afterthought, and Hall’s role in the passing game has all but vanished.

In fact, Hall’s overall role in the offense has surprisingly started to shrink, too. He played a season-low 54% of offensive snaps in the Jets’ Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, despite the team being without star wideout Garrett Wilson and top backup running back Braelon Allen.

One would assume the Jets would lean on Hall as a focal point of their offense, both in the running and passing games. Instead, he played just four more snaps than Isaiah Davis in what might as well have been a true 50/50 split.

The Jets have failed to increase Breece Hall's role in the offense

Hall has been productive when given the chance this season. The former second-round pick has totaled 410 rushing yards on 88 carries, averaging a healthy 4.7 yards per attempt. He’s also contributed 17 receptions for 150 yards through the air and has just two drops to his name.

The most egregious aspect of Hall's usage, however, as been the Jets' unwillingness to get him involved in the passing game. Hall has only been targeted three times as a receiver over the last two weeks, and all three of those came against Carolina.

Hall has run 112 total routes this season, which ranks 17th among all running backs. At this time last season, the Iowa State product ranked first in the NFL with 186 routes run (h/t Zack Rosenblatt).

Hall has only been asked to run 29 routes over the last two weeks, which ranks 26th among running backs leaguewide. Only 1.8% of his routes have come on screens, which ranks 47th of 62 qualifying running backs.

The Jets’ coaching staff spent the offseason talking a big game about unlocking Hall’s potential as a receiver, only to dramatically scale back his involvement in the passing game. That decision looks even more puzzling given that the Jets currently have just one legitimate starting wide receiver — and he’s currently injured.

In an offense desperate for playmakers, it makes no sense to sideline one of the few players capable of consistently creating explosive plays. If anything, Hall should be more involved right now, not less.

As the days pass, it’s starting to feel increasingly likely that Hall won’t be on the Jets’ roster by this time next month. But even if a trade does materialize, it wouldn’t excuse the Jets’ remarkable mismanagement of his talent this season.

A player as dynamic as Breece Hall should be a focal point, not an afterthought, especially in an offense like this. The Jets staff talked a big game and couldn't back it up — something that feels like a concerning trend.