Jets RB battle may already be over before preseason even begins

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has made it clear that the team intends to employ a running-back-by-committee approach in 2025. While Breece Hall enters the season as the penciled-in RB1, the battle for reps behind — and alongside — him is wide open.

Hall's primary competition comes in the form of two 2024 mid-round picks, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Both Allen and Davis figure to see playing time in 2025, but the early reports out of training camp paint a clearer picture of the Jets' running back situation.

Just over two weeks into training camp, Allen has emerged as the clear favorite to claim the Jets’ RB2 job behind Hall. And according to at least one reporter, the team could be leaning toward a more even split in the backfield than most expected.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt hinted at more of a "1A-1B" situation for the Jets' backfield in 2025 in a report last week. Rosenblatt insisted the Jets will "have a hard time keeping Allen off the field in 2025."

Braelon Allen continues to impress at Jets training camp

According to Rosenblatt, Allen looks "bigger, faster, and stronger," and has been one of the stars of Jets training camp. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand is going to have to find ways to get both Hall and Allen on the field this season.

The Jets selected Allen in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the hope that he could provide a powerful complement to Hall's big-play ability. Allen flashed in camp last season and had an encouraging start to his rookie year, but he soon found his production declining and his role diminished.

The Wisconsin product finished the season with 92 carries for 334 yards and two touchdowns, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry. Davis actually ate into his snaps as the season went on, essentially usurping him as RB2 on the depth chart at a point.

But Allen has returned this summer and has wasted little time picking up where he left off in last year's training camp. And with the Jets looking to get Hall more involved in the passing game this season, Allen could be in line for an increased workload.

The Jets still have three preseason games to evaluate their backfield, but at this stage, Allen has done everything right. He's been consistent, reliable, and explosive in camp, all while Davis has struggled to make the same impression.

There’s always room for movement on the depth chart, but if Allen continues on this trajectory, it won’t just be the RB2 job he’s locking up. He could be playing his way into a legitimate timeshare with Hall once the regular season kicks off.

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