New York Jets running back Breece Hall is ready to play in the team's season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, reporting he feels "really fresh" after a cautious approach to recovering from a groin strain.
Hall sustained the injury during practice on August 17, but he stated he was never worried about missing the start of the season. "I knew I was gonna be back by Week 1," Hall said Thursday. The team's careful management of his recovery allowed him to return to full practice. "Luckily, I’ve been able to play as many games as I can and be successful, be effective and be one of the better backs in the league. So I just look to just keep doing that," he added, referencing the importance of durability for running backs.
This cautious strategy comes after Hall's rookie season was limited to seven games due to a torn ACL. He played in all 17 games in his second year and missed only one game in each of the subsequent two seasons, culminating in his first 1,000-yard campaign last season with 1,065 yards and four touchdowns.
Although an injury to teammate Braelon Allen had altered the Jets' planned running back rotation, Hall's health is paramount for the team's offense. Head coach Robert Saleh had downplayed the severity of Hall's injury at the time, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich indicated that Hall would not have a pitch count if deemed healthy. "If he’s healthy," Reich said, "he’s healthy."
Hall, who has maintained his prominent role despite early-career injuries and the team's performance, addressed not being selected as an offensive captain this season. "Everybody sees how I work and how I go about stuff every day," Hall said. "So I’m essentially a captain without having a ‘C’ on my chest." He expressed that his primary goal for the season is to win, with his sights set on reaching the playoffs, a possibility that hinges on his continued health and performance at the center of the Jets' offense.