The surprising numbers behind Breece Hall’s quiet Jets start

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Breece Hall has touched the ball 46 times through three games, and he has yet to reach the end zone. 

It has been a surprising start for a player who was projected to be one of the centerpieces of the Jets’ offense along with Garrett Wilson. 

“At the end of the day, I’m here to service my teammates and coaches and just do my job,” Hall said. “I’m not in a place where I need to be complaining about getting the ball. Everybody knows it is what it is. I’m just trying to impact the team in every way I can.” 

Hall has 38 rushing attempts for 157 yards and eight catches for 78 yards. His longest play is a 33-yard reception. 

The expectation was that Hall would have a bigger role this season after the Jets were last in rushing attempts in 2024. But his 15.3 touches per game is actually down from 16.6 last year and 17.5 in 2023. 

“It is what it is,” Hall said. “We’re here to win games and not complain about who is getting the ball or who is getting touches.” 

Hall had 145 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 against the Steelers, but has not had the same type of success the past two weeks, when he had 38 yards against the Bills and 52 against the Buccaneers. 

“We’re just getting down fast,” Hall said of the reason the running game is struggling. “You can’t really run the ball when you’re down at half by multiple scores. In the running back room, we just have the standard that no matter how the game is going, no matter what’s going on, just do our job.” 

One bright spot for the Jets in this 0-3 start has been punter Austin McNamara. This is his first season punting in the NFL, but McNamara has looked like a veteran. His average of 44.5 net yards per punt is fifth in the NFL.

Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo credits assistant special teams coach Kevin O’Dea for helping McNamara develop. 

“Just relentless attention to detail,” Banjo said. “Again, with him, just continue to chase that standard we talk about on a day-to-day basis, but also too, and I haven’t said this early, but I think coach Kevin O’Dea has been doing a phenomenal job with him and his approach.… And, again, [McNamara’s] still obsessive with it, he’s still young, obviously, but he continues to grow on a daily basis, and right now, we’re happy with where he’s at.Still real, real early in the season, there’s a lot of ball to be played, but day-by-day process with him, and we look forward to continuing to do that.”