Jets Still Love Breece Hall, According to NFL Insider; Goal Is to Pass Dalvin Cook in the Second Half
Despite adding experienced running back Dalvin Cook to the mix, the New York Jets allegedly intend for second-year running back Breece Hall to be the backfield captain in the second half of the season, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.
The Jets continue to value Breece Hall, and according to Graziano, Hall is expected to take over as the starting running back at the end of the current campaign.
But he's also coming off a knee injury that ended his season, so the Jets signed Cook in part to relieve some of the strain on Hall's recovery schedule.
On October 23 during a 16-9 victory against the Denver Broncos, Hall tore his ACL, ending his season.
However, his recovery went well enough that on August 15 he was taken off the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.
Even still, the Jets would be smart to relieve some of the young running back's early pressure as he recovers from a catastrophic injury, and that's where Cook comes in. In the beginning of the season, Graziano outlined how the backfield should be used.
In addition to being a player who can make big plays as a receiver out of the backfield, Cook is seen by the Jets as the ideal runner for their offensive strategy, according to Graziano.
They appreciate his blocking skills in the passing game. He'll probably start the season as a running back who can handle three downs or less, and he'll stay in that role at least through September while the team progressively raises Hall's workload.