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 **** ans.
"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."

#vacation

It's Week 3 of our series covering the biggest Risers and Fallers in Yahoo ADP. As injuries start to mount, we've got a host of depth chart diamonds (or duds) on the move heading into late August and the heart of fantasy football draft season. For the full context, you can check out the last piece here. Let's get right into it!
Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season
Jonathon Brooks continues to climb his way up drafts (another 10.1 spots this week) as Chuba Hubbard deals with injury (see the Fallers below). Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Tuesday that Brooks and Hubbard will be in a committee to start the season, so Brooks has a chance to capture the lead back role.
A handful of backups or depth RBs have made a push this past week, including Jordan Mason (who I actually like over Aaron Jones Sr. as a draft selection), Braelon Allen (while Breece Hall deals with injury) and MarShawn Lloyd (with Josh Jacobs surrounded by question marks). One other riser I like as a sleeper right now: Texans tight end Dalton Schultz, who has cracked the top 150 on Yahoo and has an underrated chance to be a TE1 and a top target in Houston with Jayden Higgins out for the season.
Subscribe to Fantasy Ultra to unlock our Strategy Lab, 150+ page Draft Playbook and more!

#brooks

The New York Jets are getting ready to play their second preseason game on Friday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. The Jets' first-team offense and defense played well last week in their 24-16 loss to the Buccaneers, but it was the backups who struggled, especially at quarterback.
This will be a bigger test as the Steelers are expected to play their starters for at least the first quarter, aside from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
As for the Jets, the starters will play except for running back Breece Hall, who suffered a groin strain in and will miss 2-3 weeks. The good news is that Hall should be ready for the season opener against the Tennessee ****** ans. The Jets got even more good news when defensive tackle T'vondre Sweat and OLB/DE Joseph Ossai were activated from the Non-Football injury list and have begun practicing with the team.
Considering the preseason cirumstances, here are Jets Wire's three players to watch in the second week of the preseason:
Klubnik performed better than expected in his debut last week against the Buccaneers. He led the Jets offense on two scoring drives in the first quarter. He played with plenty of confidence, looked very comfortable running the offense with the starters and had a nice rapport with Garrett Wilson. It's unknown if Geno Smith will play on Friday as he's still dealing with foot soreness that kept him out of last week's game. If Geno doesn't play, Klubnik should receive plenty of work once again with the first team offense.

#offense

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Ceyair Wright is giving up a rare NFL opportunity in order to chase another dream ahead of the 2026 season.
The former undrafted college football cornerback isn't a stranger to Hollywood after appearing in several films. That includes a prominent role alongside NBA legend LeBron James in the remake of "Space Jam: A New Legacy."
MORE: Breece Hall injury update from Jets details recovery timeline, Week 1 status
However, Wright's fully prepared to choose acting over the NFL after opting to leave the Bengals this week. The 23-year-old defensive player has spent recent weeks with Cincinnati throughout training camp and the team's first preseason game.
Although, it seems that the former USC Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive standout grew up in Los Angeles. That's why his connections to Hollywood continue to run deep after beginning his acting career as a youth.

#cincinnati #ceyair

Jets reveal good news amid 2-3 week injury update for Breece Hall originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets saw Breece Hall go down at practice on Monday, and there was some real concern, as it was seemingly a non-contact injury for the star running back.
Fortunately, it wasn't a season-ending issue, as Hall injured his groin, and the reporting from the Jets wasn't a huge concern. He'll miss time, but not a lot of it.
According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the latest update revealed his timeline, with Hall set to miss 2-3 weeks. But, most importantly, he'll be ready for the regular-season opener.
"Breece Hall will be out 2-3 weeks and will be ready for the regular season, Aaron Glenn said," Rosenblatt reported.

#Jets #season

Everyone ***** ociated with the New York Jets collectively held their breath at Monday's training camp practice. Superstar running back Breece Hall suffered a non-contact injury. It was eventually revealed that Hall suffered a minor groin injury, and will be sidelined for weeks, per multiple reports.
The Jets dodged a major concern. A non-contact injury could have carried a multi-month timeline, or even worse. With the crisis totally averted, the Jets must place Hall in bubble wrap for the remainder of training camp and the preseason.
There are less than two weeks remaining in training camp. The Jets have two preseason games left, with the finale scheduled for August 28th against the New York Giants. It goes without saying that Hall shouldn't see any preseason action.
Once the Jets reduce their roster to 53 by August 30th's deadline, focus will immediately shift to preparing for Week 1 versus the Tennessee ***** ans on September 13th. Early September is when the Jets should target for Hall's full-go return. Hopefully he's healthy enough to participate when practice shifts to a regular-season schedule.
The Jets escaped disaster at Monday's practice when Hall went down untouched. Now, Aaron Glenn and staff must exercise maximum caution. Hall's focus needs to solely be centered around getting healthy for the ***** ans game.

#Titans

Matt Harmon and Justin Boone break down how to use early season strength of schedule to gain an edge over your leaguemates. The two identify the players poised for hot starts, the ones facing brutal opening stretches and how savvy managers can use early season matchups to get ahead.
(3:40) Jeremiyah Love suffers high ankle sprain
(9:20) Breece Hall suffers groin injury
(14:10) How to take advantage of fantasy schedules
(17:00) Easy QB schedules: Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray

#suffers #harmon #justin #love

The Jets - and every other NFL team - have to reduce their 90-man roster to just 53 players before 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 30.
In this context, Friday night's preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have revealed some early status updates on key position battles across the team's depth chart.
During practice on Monday, Breece Hall sustained a non-contact injury which, according to SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes, is a minor groin issue. A big sigh of relief for sure, as Hall is expected to be able to suit up as the team's starting running back in Week 1 against the ***** ans on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Regardless, running back depth is extremely important for the Jets, especially given the fact that Hall tore his ACL and meniscus in 2022.
With this in mind, it's clear that the battle for RB2 on the roster is between third-year running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. Drafted a round apart in 2024, Davis had more carries (43 to Allen's 18), yards per carry (5.5 to Allen's 4.2), and receptions (21 to Allen's 2) in the 2025 season. However, at the moment, it seems Allen has the better spot on the depth chart. Against the Bucs on Friday, Allen made the most of his four carries (tied for most on the night with Hall), racking up 44 yards and a touchdown on a smooth 31-yard run.

#depth #Jets

The New York Jets are breathing a sign of relief after running back Breece Hall went down with a non-contact injury at practice on Monday.
Hall was running after a catch when he went down to the ground without taking any contact.
Any time a player suffers a non-contact injury like that, the worst is feared. However, at least initially, it appears the Jets dodged a bullet.
According to head coach Aaron Glenn, Hall suffered a strained groin and the belief is that he isn't dealing with anything significant.
MORE: Jets star blasts team for NFL free agency spending

#Jets #injury #Monday

The New York Jets appear to have avoided the worst-case scenario after running back Breece Hall was forced to leave practice early Monday. Hall was able to walk off the field slowly after going down with a non-contact injury during a catch and run.
While non-contact injuries are always concerning, it sounds like Hall avoided a season-ending issue. The running back is dealing with a strained groin, one that Jets head coach Aaron Glenn does not consider a "big deal."
Despite that, the team will still send Hall for further evaluation. It likely wants to take every precaution possible after handing Hall a three-year, $45.75 million deal in May.
Hall, 25, is once again expected to be a focal point of the Jets' offense next season. After being selected by the team in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Hall got off to a tremendous start, rushing for 463 yards in seven games before a torn ACL and meniscus cut his rookie season short.
Hall returned to action the following year, rushing for 994 yards in 17 games. After a modest 846-yard performance in 2024, Hall turned in his best season yet in 2025. Appearing in 16 games, Hall rushed for 1,065 yards and scored four touchdowns for an otherwise miserable Jets offense.

#season #yards #avoided

While Jets running back Breece Hall exited practice early on Monday, it doesn't sound like he suffered a significant injury.
Head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters in his press conference that Hall suffered a strained groin.
"I don't think it was a big deal, but I want to make sure I get the evaluation on that," Glenn said, via SNY. "The one good thing about our players, they're honest with their injuries. And if they can go, they can go. But we will try to be precautionary with a lot of those, to make sure that we do the right things."
Glenn added Hall will undergo imaging tests to ensure the Jets have the right answers on his injury.
Hall played in New York's first preseason game against Tampa Bay, registering four carries for 16 yards.

#suffered

The Jets had a bit of a scare during Monday's practice.
Star running back Breece Hall was forced to leave the session early as he went down untouched while running after pulling in a swing pass in the open field.
Hall walked off slowly alongside trainers to the medical tent.
Head coach Aaron Glenn revealed later Monday morning that the 25-year-old strained his groin, and is set to undergo further evaluation.
The initial belief, though, is that the injury isn't believed to be serious.

#hall #running #scare

Jets RB Breece Hall's injury scare gets positive update from Aaron Glenn originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets got some very concerning news on Monday at practice, as running back Breece Hall went down with an injury that, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini, was non-contact.
Understandably, Jets fans were in a panic after this news broke. Their star running back might've just sustained a serious injury. So, fans eagerly waited for news from Aaron Glenn.
Fortunately, as Connor Hughes of SNY reported, Glenn's update on Hall was not a bad one. Instead, Glenn revealed that Hall's groin injury is not believed to be a big issue.
"It's a strained groin, Aaron Glenn tells reporters at practice, and he doesn't believe it's a big issue," Hughes reports.

#glenn #breece #hall #update

Jets get concerning Breece Hall scare amid reported untouched injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Jets played their first preseason game not too long ago, and Breece Hall did suit up and play for a little while with Cade Klubnik and the other starters.
He finished the day with four carries for 16 yards, with no targets or receptions. It was a quiet debut after his big-money offseason extension, but he came out okay. However, Monday's practice was a different story.
According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, Hall went down "untouched" during practice with an injury in a major injury scare for the Jets that still has a lot of uncertainty around it.
"Breece Hall goes down, untouched, while running after a catch. #Jets ," Cimini reports. This update from Jets practice is very worrying.

#hall #breece #practice #cimini

Is Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba the player to select with a middle-round pick in fantasy football drafts this year?
According to Fantasy Sports on SI's Gray Devo, Smith-Niigba is the ideal player to select with the No. 6 overall pick in 12-man fantasy football PPR league drafts.
"Njigba in 2025 had 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 TDs," Devo said. "There is upside for him to have even a better season in fantasy this year with Seattle losing one of their biggest offensive weapons in the 2026 offseason, RB Kenneth Walker III. With his departure, even more offensive responsibility could fall on him."
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, New York Giants WR Malik Nabers, New York Jets RB Breece Hall, San Francisco 49ers WR Mike Evans, New England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy were selected as the perfect players to draft from rounds 2-7 respectively.
Smith-Njigba has the potential to be the most productive fantasy football player in PPR leagues next season. Thus, taking him with the No. 6 overall pick has upside to it, even as a first-round star.

#fantasy #Football #devo

The Jets' first preseason game of 2026 is in the books. Let's talk about five players who helped themselves.
Cade Klubnik: Klubnik got a surprise start in the preseason opener due to a Geno Smith ankle injury. Any rookie quarterback tends to get overanalyzed in exhibition games. Klubnik didn't do anything spectacular, but he was efficient and did more bad than good. He also avoided any glaring mistakes on his way to a 5 for 7 night. Klubnik was the best of the three Jets' quarterbacks and took a step toward earning the backup quarterback job.
Will McDonald: McDonald has become a bit of a forgotten man at defensive end after the Jets added two players at his position in free agency and then picked Will McDonald second overall. Joseph Ossai's injury allowed McDonald to start. He might have been facing backups, but you don't get to choose your competition. You can only control your performance. McDonald got on the board a sack in limited action.
Braelon Allen: For the next couple of weeks Allen has the stage to himself in the competition to be the second running back behind Breece Hall due to Isaiah Davis' knee injury. The key for the third year back is to show he has recovered from his own knee injury that ended his 2025 season early. Allen broke a 31 yard touchdown run in the first half. Again, the competition was not starting level, but him running away from defenders suggests he still has a second gear.
Mory Bamba: The first time I noticed Bamba, he was beaten cleanly in the red zone. He was able to recover to break up the pass on the play, but that was due mainly to a poor throw. For the rest of the game, Bamba was noticeable for all the right reasons. Often tested in coverage, he held up with 4 passes broken up. He also stood out on special teams. This was one of the stronger preseason cases I've seen an off the radar make to earn a surprise roster spot in recent memory.

#Jets #bamba #Competition

Jets running back Isaiah Davis will miss some time with a knee injury, coach Aaron Glenn announced Thursday.
Glenn did not specify the nature of the injury but said it is not serious.
"He had a minor knee [injury]," Glenn said after practice, via Dennis Waszak of the ***** ociated Press. "He'll be out maybe a couple of weeks, but he'll be back. I'm confident that he'll be just fine going into the regular season."
The Jets open the regular season on Sept. 13 at Tennessee.
Davis, 24, is entering his third NFL season after the Jets selected him in the fifth round. He is expected to have a complementary role behind Breece Hall and Braelon Allen while being a core special teams player.

#injury #davis #regular #isaiah

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — David Bailey is already making his presence felt only three training camp practices into his NFL career.
Just ask the edge rusher's impressed New York Jets teammates and coaches.
"I see him in the backfield all the time," defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said with a laugh Saturday. "I mean, oh my gosh."
The No. 2 overall pick out of Texas Tech in April is off to a fast start this summer. During the Jets' second practice of camp on Thursday, he was credited with three "sacks" — there's no contact on quarterbacks, of course — with one during which he bull-rushed right tackle Armand Membou and buzzed past running back Breece Hall to get to Geno Smith.
"Oh, he's gonna be phenomenal," defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare gushed. "He's going to have a long, long career. The sky's the limit for that dude. He can literally do it all: He can stop the run, he can rush the passer."

#camp #tackle #long #park

When the New York Jets acquired Geno Smith this offseason, the conversation immediately shifted to the quarterback. Would they get the version who revitalized his career in Seattle Seahawks? Or would they inherit the one who struggled with turnovers during his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders?
Those are fair questions. They just may not be the most important ones. As training camp opens, the Jets' ceiling on offense could depend less on which version of Smith takes the field and more on how offensive coordinator Frank Reich builds the offensive attack around him.
Quarterbacks often receive the credit when an offense succeeds and the blame when it doesn't. While that's part of playing the position, football has repeatedly shown that coaching, scheme and supporting talent can dramatically influence a quarterback's production.
So, here's where Reich enters the picture. The veteran coach inherits an offense featuring an experienced quarterback, a dynamic running back in Breece Hall, an emerging No. 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson and a pair of intriguing young tight ends in Kenyon Sadiq and Mason Taylor. The offensive line also appears more stable than it has in recent years, giving Reich more flexibility than many first-year coordinators enjoy.
The challenge isn't **** embling talent. It's finding the best way to maximize it.

#offensive #version #geno

The New York Jets have heard plenty of skepticism this offseason. Apparently, there was room for a little more.
CBS Sports recently released its annual rankings of every NFL team's offensive "triplets" (quarterback, running back, and primary pass catcher). It didn't take long for the disrespect to flow.
The Jets landed 29th overall. Only the Tennessee **** ans, the Miami Dolphins, and the Cleveland Browns were ranked lower, placing New York firmly in the bottom tier despite an offseason that brought meaningful changes to the offense.
The ranking featured discussion about Geno Smith at quarterback, Breece Hall at running back, and Garrett Wilson as the Jets' featured receiver. According to CBS Sports, much of the skepticism stems from Smith's disappointing 2025 campaign with the Las Vegas Raiders.
"The Jets fell six spots here despite replacing Justin Fields with Geno Smith. It feels like they're being punished for Smith's awful season in Las Vegas, which unfolded under horrendous circumstances in arguably the NFL's worst offensive environment. (Tennessee is the only team that has an argument for being worse.) Smith is also getting up there in age, though, so it's possible that he's just on the downslide of his career and will never get back what he had for a few years in Seattle. The Jets and the next three teams on the list were separated by a total of 0.2 points in the rankings."

#sports #only

The New York Jets have their franchise left tackle in Olu Fashanu. The No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Fashanu took a serious step forward as a sophomore in 2025. A similar season in 2026 would guarantee the Jets trigger his fifth-year contract option next offseason.
Roughly three years removed from that 2024 NFL draft class, CBS Sports recently conducted a re-draft scenario. With the Jets picking at No. 11 overall, Fashanu is still the pick.
That proves the Jets absolutely nailed the Fashanu decision.
"With aging players at both tackle spots, the Jets made the right choice here taking Fashanu, who has looked the part through two seasons," CBS Sports wrote. "After starting his rookie year as a backup, he became a regular down the stretch of the season, and last year, he really started to put it together, especially as a pass blocker. He should only continue to improve."
Fashanu will be tasked with protecting Geno Smith in 2026. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich may also field a run-heavy offense with Breece Hall at running back.

The New York Jets have not fielded a truly effective passing offense in several seasons. This past campaign, the Jets fielded the worst passing attack in the NFL, averaging a 32nd-ranked 140.3 yards per contest.
Unsurprisingly, both quarterback Justin Fields and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand were replaced this offseason.
It was a serious downgrade from their 2024 output under QB Aaron Rodgers when they averaged a 16th-best 218.5 yards per game. The Jets invested significant resources this offseason to hopefully improve their aerial attack in 2026.
New offensive coordinator Frank Reich arrives to oversee the offense and Geno Smith is a gunslinging quarterback. Playmakers Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall were signed to extensions. The Jets drafted two pass catchers in the first round, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
Wilson will be the focal point of the Jets' passing attack, but Smith has several weapons at his disposal. Adonai Mitchell is also expected to take a big step forward. Including sophomore tight end Mason Taylor, Smith has at least five pass-catching weapons that should be difference makers.

The Jets drafted tight end Mason Taylor in the second round in 2025, so some might wonder how well he took the news that they used a first-round pick on a player at the same position this year.
Kenyon Sadiq's arrival was not met with a negative response from Taylor, however. The presence of offensive coordinator Frank Reich has something to do with that.
Taylor said this month that he sees "endless opportunities" to make plays in Reich's offense because the coach "likes to use" tight ends and those opportunities will be enhanced because wide receiver Garrett Wilson is also going to be on the field.
"Everyone's going to have their role and I just think it's going to be really exciting because we’re going to be unstoppable actually because there's so many options and if you want to shut down the tight ends, then there's Garrett and the receivers," Taylor said, via the team's website.
Unstoppable is rarely a term ***** ociated with Jets offenses and quarterback Geno Smith's recent play will make it hard for some to share Taylor's optimism, but the addition of Sadiq and first-round wideout Omar Cooper to Taylor, Wilson and running back Breece Hall gives the Jets a more complete set of weapons than they had to work with last season.

The New York Jets were terrible on offense throughout the 2025 season. That led to sweeping personnel changes this offseason. The Jets parted ways with quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor, and even fired offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand after one season.
The Jets hired Frank Reich to be Aaron Glenn's new offensive play-caller. Geno Smith was acquired to play quarterback. The supporting cast got extensions for Breece Hall and Joe Tippmann, and first-round picks Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq also joined the offense.
Bleacher Report recently ****** sed the best and worst-case scenarios for every offense in the league. The dream scenario includes rookies like Cooper and Sadiq firmly establishing themselves as building blocks. The nightmare would see the quarterbacks struggling for a second straight season.
"With all due respect to Geno Smith and rookie fourth-round pick Cade Klubnik, the New York Jets' quarterback of the future probably won't be drafted until 2027," Moe Moton wrote. "Next year's class is expected to be deep at the position, and New York already owns three first-round selections. In a best-case scenario, the Jets get enough from the quarterback position to identify potential long-term support pieces for their next young quarterback."
Moton is correct that Smith is a temporary solution for the Jets at quarterback. With three 2027 first-round picks at his disposal, Darren Mougey may already be eyeing prospects like Arch Manning and Dante Moore. Moton goes on to claim the Jets' quarterbacks could derail the entire 2026 season.

It’s rare for a 4th round quarterback to become a longtime starter in the NFL. There have been exceptions (Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins comes to mind) but each has been shadowed by a who’s who of “who’s that” (hello Kyle Lauletta). However, when former a Clemson star Cade Klubnik was selected isn’t the most despairing aspect of his projection, it’s where he was selected.
The New York Jets are where Quarterbacks go to rot. Their last iconic signal caller came by the likes of Joe Namath, who was drafted as recently as the signing of the Civil Rights Act (1964). Their second greatest is arguably Ken O’Brien, who led them to exactly one playoff win in nine years. The greatest of this century is likely Chad Pennington, who was able to win two playoff games in his eight seasons.
However, if there is any benefit to Cade landing in New York, it’s the lack of competition on that football team. Sitting behind a 35 year old Geno Smith, Klubnik is highly likely to see the field early on in his career. Additionally, the Jets have a multitude of interesting pieces on their roster. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson are proven stars simply looking for a competent signal caller to distribute them the ball. AD Michell is an exciting young prospect with shades of George Pickens (complimentary and derogatory). Rookie Omar Cooper just won a National Championship with Indiana, and Kenyon Sadiq is a tight end with Julio Jones’ height and 40 time and Anthony Edwards’ vertical leap.
The Jets also project a strong offensive line, with no clear holes at any of the five positions. They do set up a young quarterback to succeed, just haven’t been able to find that passer.
In a perfect world, Cade plays a Point Guard-esque role for a team full of talented skill players. Think Memphis Grizzlies Tyus Jones or Phoenix Suns Ricky Rubio; a player that isn’t necessarily taking over games and creating big plays out of nothing, but can distribute in a way that gives his teammates the opportunity to do what they do best while limiting turnovers.

The New York Jets have spent the offseason addressing several areas of concern. They upgraded the roster through the draft, added veteran leadership on defense, and continued building around a young offensive nucleus that includes Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and several promising newcomers.
Despite all the additions and improvements, one question continues to overshadow everything else. Recently, Fox Sports examined the biggest question facing every AFC team entering the summer.
For the Jets, the answer was both predictable and unavoidable. Will Geno Smith give New York what it needs at quarterback?
"Smith may be an upgrade over Justin Fields, but he struggled mightily last season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starter, throwing a league-high 17 interceptions. Returning to the Jets, where he started his NFL career as a second-round pick in 2013, Smith will have a promising cast of pass-catchers to throw to."
That ***** sment is difficult to dismiss. Quarterback remains the most important position in professional sports, and the Jets have spent years searching for stability under center. Smith's arrival was intended to provide exactly that. While his career resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks demonstrated that he is capable of playing at a high level, his most recent campaign raised legitimate questions about whether he can consistently perform as a difference-maker.

The New York Jets landed 20th in Sports Illustrated's ranking of the NFL's best offensive triplets.
At first glance, that feels disappointing. Upon closer inspection, however, the ranking has less to do with playmakers Garrett Wilson or Breece Hall and far more to do with one player: Quarterback Geno Smith.
Sports Illustrated acknowledged as much while discussing the Jets' ranking. The question isn't whether Wilson is talented. He's already produced three 1,000-yard seasons and established himself as one of the NFL's better young receivers.
Hall has also proven he can be a productive feature back when healthy. The uncertainty revolves around Smith. Which version of the veteran quarterback will show up?
Will it be the player who threw for more than 4,300 yards and helped revive his career with the Seattle Seahawks? Or are we discussing the quarterback who struggled through a disappointing 2025 season and led the NFL in interceptions?

The New Jets, on paper, have gotten a lot better on offense throughout this offseason. The rookie additions of tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. as well as the addition of quarterback Geno Smith, and the retention of running back Breece Hall were all very important to the success of this group in 2026. Combine this with a returning Garrett Wilson and things are really looking up for Gang Green. However, there’s one more piece to this puzzle who gained valuable experience as a starter in 2025 with the Jets and is looking to level up. That player is Adonai Mitchell, and his rise may already be beginning.
The WR hierarchy is pretty much unknown after Garrett Wilson. The battle for WR2 will be between the aforementioned Adonai Mitchell and new face Omar Cooper Jr. Both are talented, showing WR1 upside in college with different skillsets. Mitchell is a great athlete with field-stretching ability and a large frame. Meanwhile, Cooper wins more with technique and is lethal after the catch. Both have valuable qualities.
Focusing more on Mitchell’s summer thus far, it seems he’s building up his game very well. He’s shown great timing and improvement in his route running according to those in attendance. His work in the offseason has also seemingly blossomed into great chemistry with his new QB as well. He also seems to have developed a respect for his new signal caller already, calling him a “baller” and the “alpha of the room” during a press conference.
This is great news, as it shows Adonai Mitchell’s commitment to the team and himself getting better. This comes despite pre-draft criticisms of his preparation, attitude, and perhaps even immaturity. It’s safe to say that those rumors can end now.
Mitchell’s role within the Jets offense is as a serious threat while Garrett Wilson and presumably Omar Cooper Jr. handle the intermediate and short areas of the field. In the 8 games he played for the Jets, he racked up 13 targets of 20+ yards, with only 3 of them being completed. That has a lot to do with poor QB play.

Breece Hall on staying with the Jets long-term: Whatever happens, happens

After the 2025 NFL trade deadline passed, Breece Hall was the last man standing with the New York Jets. Hall watched as both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were traded away, making him the physical embodiment of that Will Smith gif from the end of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
Hall finished out the season with the Jets and now has an opportunity for a change of scenery as well. If his comments Saturday are any indication, Hall seems very open to the possibility of playing elsewhere in the immediate fut