RB Breece Hall declares himself ready for Jets' opener after groin injury scare

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Sep 10, 2026

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — Breece Hall had never dealt with a groin injury.

So when he strained his right groin during an Aug. 17 practice, the Jets’ star running back admits he “freaked out.”

Three weeks later, Hall is healthy, practicing fully and expecting to play in Sunday’s season opener against the Titans.

“It was actually a very good two-week vacation,” Hall said Thursday. “I could have been out there a little earlier, but the team thankfully was very cautious with me.

“It was a good vacation, and I feel really fresh now.”

Following Hall’s injury, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn said he expected him to be sidelined for two to three weeks but ready for Week 1. That’s when he began pressing the Jets’ training staff to allow him to participate in more activities than it initially wanted. Not only does he have fresh legs, but he also believes he can handle his typical workload.

“I mean, my mindset is, if he’s healthy, he’s healthy,” Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich said of Hall. “We always like to kind of rotate guys a little bit anyways, but unless AG and the training staff give us a rep count, then we just play ball.”

The Jets will need Hall to be a catalyst once again, this time in their new offense under Reich. He had the best season of his career in 2025, rushing for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns. Hall also tied for second on the team with 36 receptions while adding 350 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Asked what would define a successful season for him, Hall was straight to the point.

“Playoffs.”

Gang Green hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010, when it reached the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season. The Jets also haven’t finished with a winning record since 2015.

If the Jets are going to end their postseason drought, they will need Hall to take his play to another level. That will be especially important because Hall has never recorded more than five rushing touchdowns in any of his first four NFL seasons.

Hall, 25, has all the tools to be mentioned among the best running backs in the league. That’s why the Jets signed him to a three-year, $45.75 million contract extension in May.

Hall is a dynamic, versatile running back who can be effective on the ground and as a receiver out of the backfield. He is also a patient runner who follows his blockers, reads defensive fronts and attacks openings at the line of scrimmage.

It isn’t entirely Hall’s fault that he isn’t often mentioned among the NFL’s best running backs. The Jets’ offense has ranged from mediocre to downright awful during his time with the team. They have cycled through a carousel of quarterbacks that includes Joe Flacco, Zach Wilson, Mike White, an aging Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Trevor Siemian, Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook.

Now, Geno Smith is the latest player tasked with stabilizing the Jets’ quarterback position. He is coming off a 17-interception season during his lone year with the Raiders. The hope is that Smith will push the ball downfield and create explosive plays in a way Fields did not last season.

“I can’t wait to watch him,” Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson said of Hall. “The way this O-line has been putting in work throughout this training camp and just making holes for him.

“I can’t wait to see him break one loose and him kicking it into that gear. Us receivers, we are going to play our part in trying to spring him because he’s special, man. I’m happy for him that he’s healthy and got his contract.”

Hall and the Jets will see a familiar face on the opposite sideline when they visit the Titans. He will not only play against Tennessee head coach Robert Saleh, who drafted Hall in 2022, but also face several former teammates.

Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson and defensive tackles John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas all know Hall well. They also know Saleh’s system.

“It’s gonna be fun,” Hall said. “I’ve been talking a bit with some of my good friends over there, some old vets over there on the D-line, so it will be cool to see them. Saleh is very aggressive, hiding everything with shells and disguises and blitzes, but at the end of the day, it’s about us.

“It’s still a game at the end of the day. So my job is to run away from them. I’m trying to win, trying to be the best Breece Hall I can be.”