Jets send obvious message to Breece Hall about his future in Week 7 loss

New York Jets running back Breece Hall has been at the center of trade rumors for months, and as the trade deadline approaches, his future in Florham Park is growing increasingly uncertain.

Hall remains the Jets' de facto RB1, but his usage in his team's Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers suggests his role could be shifting — or that a change of scenery might be coming.

Hall played a season-low 54% of offensive snaps in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Panthers, nearly splitting playing time with backup Isaiah Davis, who was on the field for just four fewer snaps.

Notably, Hall was largely absent for most of the fourth quarter, with Davis playing nearly all the snaps. That appears to be a strong indication that Hall’s time with the Jets could be coming to an end.

The Jets just made a Breece Hall trade feel even more inevitable

The assumption going into the week was that Hall would be the focal point of the Jets' offense. With Garrett Wilson sidelined due to a knee injury, the Jets were expected to lean on Hall, both as a runner and receiver. But that's not what happened.

Hall carried the ball 11 times for just 38 yards, adding two catches for 14 yards in the passing game. He was targeted only three times as a receiver and didn't touch the ball on the Jets' final 23 plays from scrimmage.

Instead, it was Davis who received the bulk of snaps down the stretch, filling in as the designated passing down back. The Jets clearly don't trust Hall in pass protection, which is likely why Davis received so many snaps late in the game.

But one would think that the Jets would make a more concerted effort to get him involved in the game plan, especially given their lack of skill position talent around him. Evidently, Tanner Engstrand and the Jets' offensive staff had other plans.

All signs continue to point to the Jets trading Hall ahead of the deadline in a few weeks. The Iowa State product is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, and it doesn't appear as though the Jets are in any rush to extend him.

Several teams have reportedly been calling the Jets about Hall's availability, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Chargers. It's possible the Jets will be able to net as high as a third or fourth-round pick in return for their talented running back.

Braelon Allen's injury undoubtedly complicates the situation, but the Jets seem to be content giving Davis an increased workload. The Jets also have veterans Khalil Herbert and Kene Nwangwu, who suffered a concussion on Sunday, who can help pitch in.

The Jets clearly aren’t treating Hall as a centerpiece of their offense, and if he’s barely touched the ball even with Wilson sidelined, it’s difficult to envision him remaining on the roster much longer. His departure feels more inevitable than ever.