The NY Jets have taken things slow with star running back Breece Hall this season. The team has taken a conservative approach to easing him back into their offensive game plan following the torn ACL he suffered last season.
The time for patience is over, however. Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters on Wednesday that Hall is no longer on a pitch count ahead of the team's Week 5 matchup with the Denver Broncos.
Through four weeks, Hall is yet to play 50 percent or more of his team's offensive snaps in a game. He saw his snap count rise to a season-high 49 percent in Week 3, only for his snaps to decrease to 26 (44 percent) the following week.
The Jets have been patient enough with Hall. With Dalvin Cook struggling and Michael Carter merely a third-down back, the time for Hall to take over as the team's bell-cow back is long overdue. Week 5 should serve as his coming out party.
The NY Jets must unleash Breece Hall in Week 5
Not only is Hall officially off a pitch count entering this week, but he's set to go up against a Broncos defense that is on track to, quite literally, be the worst in NFL history.
No NFL team has allowed more yards or points through the first four games of a season than the 2023 Broncos. They're on pace to finish with a worse DVOA than the 2008 Detroit Lions. And in Hall's interest, they're currently allowing 5.6 yards per carry to opposing running backs.
Hall currently leads all NFL running backs with an absurd 6.5 yards per carry. His teammate, Dalvin Cook, ranks dead last with a woeful 2.5 yards per carry. Hall ranks second in RYOE/attempt — Cook ranks second to last. It's clear what needs to be done moving forward.
Week 5 is the perfect time for a Breece Hall breakout performance. It was in this very building in 2022 that Hall broke a 62-yard touchdown run against the Broncos. Just a few players later, he suffered the torn ACL that would knock him out for the remainder of the season.
This is a full-circle moment for Hall. He's entering this game as the healthiest he's been since his unfortunate injury last season. It's the same opponent, the same stadium, and even the same quarterback lining up alongside him in the backfield.
Sunday's game should be a reminder of just how talented and explosive Breece Hall is. It's time for the Jets to unleash the Breece.