NY Jets running back Breece Hall was well on his way to becoming one of the best players at his position in the NFL last season before he tragically tore his ACL in the team's seventh game of the year.
It was a major blow to a Jets offense that, quite frankly, never recovered following his injury. The Jets are hoping to see Hall return to form in 2023, and the early signs are encouraging.
Brian Costello of the New York Post reported on Wednesday that the Jets "believe Hall will be ready for the season." He did note that Hall is not expected to participate in preseason games and that he will probably spend "a good chunk" of time on the PUP list in training camp.
But the most important takeaway is that the Jets expect Hall to be ready to go for Week 1. That's incredibly promising news, given that Hall suffered his injury in late October. A Week 1 recovery timetable was never guaranteed.
The NY Jets have high hopes for Breece Hall in 2023
It didn't take long for Hall to establish himself as one of the most promising players on the Jets' roster. The 2022 second-round pick totaled 463 yards and four touchdowns in seven games, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He added 218 yards and a touchdown in the air.
At the time of his injury, Hall ranked top 10 in the NFL in scrimmage yards. This is despite the fact that he didn't receive double-digit carries in a game until Week 4. He only had three games with double-digit carries prior to his injury.
Hall was just starting to become the focal point of the Jets' offense before that fateful Denver Broncos game. The Jets are hoping Hall could become that player again in 2023.
There are some contingency plans on the roster in the form of Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, and Ty Johnson. The Jets could also look to add another running back, either in the draft or free agency.
There was some smoke around Ezekiel Elliott, but the interest appeared to be more on Elliott's end. It doesn't sound like the Jets are particularly interested in signing the former Pro Bowl running back, nor are Hall and Carter optimistic about that potential signing.
The Jets have some backup plans in case Hall suffers a setback, but if all goes according to plan, he should be on the field with his teammates come Week 1.