The relief came when the coach himself added that Hall will be available to the coaching staff for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. The Jets will visit the Tennessee Titans in that game.

Hall initially suffered a strained groin, but ultimately, the injury was not as serious as initially feared. One of the most explosive RBs in the AFC, he is one of Aaron Glenn’s primary weapons in the ground game.

Geno Smith needs Hall at 100%

The AFC East has the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills as the main contenders, so winning the division will require having the entire roster at full strength. Geno Smith will look to Breece Hall as his primary weapon in the running game, and his recovery is a must for Week 1.

During his last season in the Big Apple, Hall recorded 243 carries for 1,065 rushing yards. He totaled four touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Can he improve those numbers in 2026?

The Jets’ backfield

Aaron Glenn can’t take anything for granted, especially when it comes to the health of his players. In the event that Hall suffers a setback with his injury during the season, these are the options the Jets have in the running game.

• Braelon Allen
• Isaiah Davis
• Kene Nwangwu
• Chip Trayanum
• Sam Scott

What’s next for the Jets?

This team has two more preseason games remaining before the start of the 2026 NFL season. First, they will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium next Friday, August 21, while they will wrap up their preparation in the classic New York matchup against the Giants on August 28 at MetLife Stadium.

“I don’t think it was a big deal,” the head coach said via ESPN‘s Rich Cimini. While many were concerned about the running back’s situation, it appears that the injury is not considered serious.

The Jets will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Friday, August 21, and Hall’s availability for the game is now in doubt. With no official confirmation yet, it remains to be seen what steps the team will take regarding his recovery.

The importance of Hall to the Jets

As the focal point of the New York Jets‘ offense, Hall firmly established himself as a true three-down workhorse during the 2025 season, logging 1,065 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns on 243 carries (4.4 YPC), alongside 36 receptions for 350 receiving yards and a touchdown. Looking ahead to the upcoming campaign, Hall’s influence in the backfield is expected to expand even further under veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

With Smith providing steady pre-snap reads, high passing accuracy, and deep-pocket experience, defenses will no longer be able to stack the box with impunity. This balanced aerial threat should open up cleaner running lanes for Hall, while allowing him to serve as an invaluable safety valve and dual-threat weapon in high-leverage passing situations.

New York Jets’ next challenges

Following their clash with the Steelers, Aaron Glenn‘s Jets are primed to put the finishing touches on their summer prep when they will prepare for a cross-town preseason showdown against the New York Giants on August 28. That final dress rehearsal will give Glenn one last opportunity to fine-tune scheme chemistry and tighten up execution before shifting full focus to the games that matter.

All eyes then turn on September 13, when New York hits the road for a high-stakes Week 1 opener against the Tennessee Titans—a crucial early-season test to set the tone for the campaign.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, David Bailey suffered an ankle injury, but Aaron Glenn was clear and short on his answer regarding the status of the pass-rusher. “He’ll be fine,” said Glenn. This adds to Kenyon Sadiq suffering an injury setback.

Apparently, the injury happened after Bailey went to the ground on a third-down pass rush. Per Cimini, Bailey walked gingerly off the field with a trainer by his side. Still, it seems like there is no real concern for the Jets.

Bailey is poised to be a star for the NY Jets

David Bailey is heavily poised to be a breakout star for the New York Jets. As the No. 2 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech, the rookie edge rusher enters the league with immense expectations and is already a frontrunner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) award.

Last season, Will McDonald was the New York Jets leader in sacks with just eight. Bailey is bound to be a double-digit sacks guy from the start. Besides McDonald, no other player had more than four sacks. Hence, he is a very welcomed addition.

NY Jets defensive lineup for 2026 NFL season

The New York Jets could get a new-look defense with improved players. Aaron Glenn is a defensive mind after all. He is also on the hot seat, so he either delivers or he is likely to be fired. This is how they are poised to line up:

• DE – David Onyemata
• NT – T’Vondre Sweat
• DT – Harrison Phillips
• LOLB – David Bailey
• WLB – Jamien Sherwood
• MLB – Demario Davis
• ROLB – Jospeh Ossai
• CB – Nahshon Wright
• SS – Minkah Fitzpatrick
• FS – Andre Cisco
• CB – Brandon Stephens / D’Angelo Ponds

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Aaron Glenn revealed it’s an injury setback from the offseason hernia surgery he had. Glenn also confirmed Sadiq will miss some time, but he is still confident that the rookie tight end will be ready for the regular-season opener.

Glenn stated previously that Sadiq’s role on the Jets would be a prominent one. After all, the Jets drafted him 16th overall and based on talent alone, Sadiq could be a difference-maker for this offense. Now, it’s time to reassess and recover properly.

What was Sadiq’s hernia surgery about?

Sadiq had a lingering groin hernia issue. Hence, in May he underwent a minor procedure to get it fixed. He originally dealt with this issue prior to the 2025 college football season. The Jets were also aware of this before they drafted him.

While an exact timetable wasn’t given, the fact is Sadiq should recover for Week 1, where the Jets play former head coach Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

Who can take Sadiq’s spot in the meantime?

Sophomore Mason Taylor will have plenty of reps at tight end. Taylor was a second-round pick last season and he was one of the few shining pieces for the Jets. Still, the team couldn’t resist the temptation to draft Sadiq.

Jeremy Ruckert, Jelani Woods and Chase Curtis are all a bit behind on the depth chart, with Ruckert being the one able to get some snaps, especially as a blocker, something that he excels at.

Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported that Glenn praised the rookie’s versatility and said Sadiq will be “a huge weapon” for the Jets offense. However, he will have to compete as the tight end room on the Jets has talent.

Sadiq still has plenty of hype around him, after all, he was the 16th overall pick in the NFL Draft. But, the Jets found a very serviceable tight end in second-rounder Mason Taylor last season. Taylor and Sadiq’s skill sets are very different, but both should see plenty of snaps.

Mason Taylor and Kenyon Sadiq’s difference in skill sets

Taylor is more of a reliable blocker than Sadiq while also being a pure inline tight end. Taylor had 44 catches for 369 yards and one touchdown. Even though the numbers aren’t amazing, context matters. The Jets passing offense was dead last in the NFL last year.

As for Sadiq, he is a big presence in the slot position and he is way more explosive, fast, and prolific route-runner. As a receiver, Sadiq has a way higher ceiling than Taylor. In the blocking department, he is still very raw.

The NY Jets will have a new-look offense

The Jets focused heavily on revamping the offense during the offseason. A new quarterback, a new offensive coordinator in Frank Reich and plenty of new weapons have arrived at the Meadowlands. This is how the offense will look:

• QB – Geno Smith
• RB – Breece Hall
• WR – Garrett Wilson
• WR – Omar Cooper Jr.
• TE – Kenyon Sadiq/Mason Taylor

“We brought in Geno to be our starter. I’m not going to put a cap on him on how many years he can play,” the head coach said during the press conference. “…But obviously in this league, you gotta have a system where are backups and guys that are pushing the starter, you always wanna create this type of competition.“

He also added: “Listen, I’m not gonna say when Cade is going to play. The thing is those guys are going out there and compete. So, right now I like the room.”

Smith and Klubnik are the main faces of a quarterback room that also includes Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. Who will ultimately take the reins of this team throughout the season?

Geno Smith’s experience or Cade Klubnik’s youth

The choice between Geno Smith and Cade Klubnik represents a classic veteran-versus-prospect dilemma for the New York Jets. Coming off a season with the Raiders where he recorded 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, Smith offers the steady hand and seasoned leadership needed to navigate Frank Reich’s offensive system immediately.

In contrast, Cade Klubnik arrives as a high-upside project following a 2025 campaign at Clemson where he threw for 2,943 yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, showcasing a dual-threat capability that Smith currently lacks.

For the Jets, a hybrid approach serves them best. While Smith provides the veteran experience necessary to keep the team competitive in the short term, Klubnik represents the long-term future at a low cost. Utilizing Smith as the starter allows Klubnik the essential time to refine his decision-making and adjust to the speed of the NFL without being thrown into the fire prematurely.

What will happen with Breece Hall?

After the draft, most teams will now focus on retaining key stars. While the New York Jets placed the franchise tag on Breece Hall, they have until July 15 to negotiate a long-term contract, something Darren Mougey aims to resolve soon.

“I have a list of things to get to next week, that being one of them. … I anticipate kind of turning my attention to Breece and that contract situation,” the general manager revealed to the press.

Hall has recorded three consecutive seasons surpassing 1,000 total yards, establishing himself as the centerpiece of the offense. Because of this, he is projected to earn $14.3 million (fully guaranteed) for the 2026 season. This figure would automatically place him among the five highest-paid running backs in the league.

“I was really hoping for this. I kind of woke up this morning thinking, ‘I hope the Jets kind of pick me.’ I had a feeling that they were going to pick me, at least,” the quarterback revealed to the press.

Now the debate centers on who will be in charge of leading Aaron Glenn’s team. Will it be the experienced Geno Smith, or will they ultimately bet on Klubnik’s talent?

What can Klubnik bring to the Jets?

In his final 2025 season at Clemson, Cade Klubnik served as a permanent team captain and showed significant efficiency, completing 65.6% of his passes for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. While the Tigers’ season had its ups and downs, Klubnik’s poise was evident in his ability to engineer fourth-quarter comebacks and maintain a high PFF passing grade of 80.3.

Selected by the Jets in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2026 Draft, Klubnik is expected to provide valuable depth as a developmental backup. His extensive college experience—40 starts and over 10,000 career passing yards—gives the Jets a “pro-ready” intellectual presence in the quarterback room.

While he may not start immediately, his anticipation and ability to handle high-tempo schemes make him an ideal insurance policy and a potential future starter if he refines his consistency under pressure.

The New York Jets’ QB room

The New York Jets’ quarterback room for the 2026 NFL season is headlined by a “full circle” return for Geno Smith, who was acquired via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. To facilitate the move, Smith renegotiated his contract; while he is set to make $19.5 million this year, the Raiders are covering $16.2 million of that total, leaving the Jets responsible for only about $3.3 million.

Under head coach Aaron Glenn, the depth chart behind Smith features a mix of youth and veteran backup experience. While Cade Klubnik provides a developmental presence, Glenn will also have Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe available to compete for reps. This versatile group gives the Jets several options as they look to stabilize the position and improve upon their recent offensive struggles.

The Jets drafted EDGE David Bailey at No.2, tight end Kenyon Sadiq at 16th, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at 30th. They were the most active team in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Speaking via the team’s website, Aaron Glenn said, “When you have targets, you identify guys you like, you love — you go get them… And any time you can bring guys with a winning background on your team, that only helps the morale of your team.”

Is Aaron Glenn on the hot seat?

One could argue that Glenn wasn’t given a good hand in his first year as head coach of the Jets. Still, he was not good. His side of the ball didn’t look good and actually regressed, and the offense looked dreadful all season long. In fact, the Jets had no interceptions all season.

That will put any coach on the hot seat, especially if it’s a defensive-minded coach, like Glenn is. The Jets also changed offensive coordinator and brought in Frank Reich. Hence, if this doesn’t work, Glenn might not be there next season.

What’s the winning pedigree Glenn is talking about?

All three players selected by the Jets played in teams that went to the College Football Playoffs. Bailey led the nation in Division 1 sacks with Texas Tech. Kenyon Sadiq was a huge weapon in Dan Lanning’s Oregon, which is an elite program. Last but not least, Omar Cooper Jr. was WR1 for Indiana and won the National Championship.

Two things can be true. The Jets’ willingness to trade down could signal a final decision on drafting Simpson, but it could also be that New York is playing chess, and not checkers ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. After Glenn’s latest comments on Simpson, it sure looks like the soon-to-be rookie quarterback has made quite a first impression on the Gang Green.

“[Simpson] is obviously a coach’s kid. He’s extremely smart. He works his a– off. Even in the private workout that we had, he was very detailed. We’ll see how this process goes, but he did a good job,” Glenn admitted during the NFL‘s head coaches meeting before the 2026 NFL season, via @snyjets on X.

Jets are keeping tabs on Simpson

Needless to say, the Jets need help in almost every area of the football field. Their 3–14 record in 2025 paints a clear picture of where they stand, and, as much as Glenn and company would love to convince themselves otherwise, things rarely change overnight in the NFL for organizations as troubled as New York’s.

Though rare, if one thing can truly put a franchise back on its feet, it’s finding a franchise quarterback in the Draft. Simpson could very well be that for the Jets. New York is not fully sold on that promise, though—or at least, it isn’t saying it out loud for the rest of the league to take notice, which would be smart on the Jets’ part.

“My feeling is, you always want to build your roster with good players. Whatever position that is. Obviously, the quarterback is the top position in your team. If we feel like he’s the best player on the board, that’s who we draft. We’re not trying to reach and grab for guys,” Glenn answered a question on whether the Jets will draft a QB, namely Simpson, in 2026 or wait for the quarterback-stacked class of 2027, per SNY.

Draft Simpson or roll with Geno Smith?

Geno Smith is set to be the starting quarterback for the Jets in 2026. Glenn has even gone as far as to say he can be the signal-caller who takes New York to “the promised land.” Fans in East Rutherford have a hard time buying into that statement, especially after watching Smith spiral out of control with the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Still, they can understand where Glenn’s message is coming from, and why he has no other choice but to say it.

Regardless, the expectation around “The City” is that the Jets will be a bottom-feeder in the NFL next season and end up with a top pick that could put them in prime position to select their next great quarterback. As things stand, the majority of the fan base in the Big Apple is looking ahead to next year’s draft, when the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, and other high-end quarterback prospects will enter the league.

Glenn has to make an impact fast in New York

As much as Glenn may be excited about that class, he can’t make any such public admission. Glenn must first worry about keeping his head coaching job for another year in an organization that never hesitates to send its head coaches packing. Glenn may never have another shot in the NFL as a head coach, so he must make the most of it. That means taking risks and hoping for the best.

Put into practice, it could very well mean drafting Simpson in the upcoming draft. Glenn and the Jets could take a safer route, but at the end of the day, it’s quarterbacks who change the narrative. If New York drafts a top pass rusher, cornerback, or another position, it will be forgotten quickly. If the Jets find their franchise quarterback, though, those are the kind of draft-day decisions that make NFL history.

“Listen, he’s done it. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year. Man, he was up for MVP early in the season. There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here to this team,” the head coach said via Ari Meirov on X.

At the moment, Smith shares the QB room with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe. Nevertheless, barring any unforeseen circumstances, everything points to him being the natural replacement for Justin Fields starting in Week 1.

A misstep in Las Vegas

Geno Smith’s tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders proved to be a difficult one-and-done experiment characterized by high turnover rates and a lack of protection. Joining the team via trade from Seattle in March 2025, Smith struggled to find his rhythm behind a porous offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 55 times.

While he managed to throw for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns, he also recorded a league-worst 17 interceptions, contributing to a disappointing 2-13 record as a starter. Despite a historic debut where he broke a 45-year-old franchise record for passing yards in a Raiders debut, the team’s overall offensive struggles led to his departure.

Glenn needs stability at QB

Heading into his second season as the Jets’ head coach, Aaron Glenn is prioritizing stability at the quarterback position after a tumultuous 2025 campaign. Last year, his offense struggled significantly under Justin Fields, whose season was marred by inconsistency and a league-high sack rate before a knee injury and eventual benching ended his tenure in New York.

In his absence, the Jets turned to veteran Tyrod Taylor to stabilize the unit, and later utilized Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe as the team limped to a 3-14 finish.

A tough schedule ahead for the Jets

Although the exact dates of the games are still unknown, the New York Jets already know their opponents. If this team wants to compete in the AFC East race, it will need to stay strong week after week.

According to the team’s website, the Jets interviewed Frank Reich for the offensive coordinator vacancy. Reich won the Super Bowl as the Eagles offensive coordinator in 2017. He was then the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, before going to Stanford, where he served as interim head coach and then as a senior advisor.

Reich is known as a great offensive mind in the business. Head coach Aaron Glenn relieved Tanner Engstrand from his offensive coordinator role after just one season, where the former Detroit Lions passing game coordinator failed to deliver. The Jets offense ranked 29th in total yards, dead-last in passing yards, and 29th in scoring.

Reich has the resume, but is still a risky move

The last time we saw Frank Reich in the NFL, he was being fired after 11 games by Carolina, in which his team went 1-10. This is the fourth shortest head coach stint in NFL history (not interims taken into consideration). After that, it’s been three years since he hasn’t been in the league and that might be troublesome.

Reich is 64 years old and this league has evolved. While no one will deny he knows plenty of football and his offensive playcalling has been above average, there’s no guarantee he will be able to do so after years away from the league. The concerns could increase given that the Jets roster is not stacked by any means.

The Jets don’t even know how they’ll look in 2026

Many players will be out of contract with the Jets in 2026, but not only that, there is some real concern on the quarterback position. Justin Fields has a contract for next year but he might not be seen as the solution. In fact, he was benched by Tyrod Taylor at a point this season.

Hence, Reich, or any of the other interviewees (former Chargers OC Greg Roman, Dolphins quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, Bills quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry, and Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells), won’t have any certainties coming into the season. Needless to say, it’s a tough job to accept, since the situation is an uphill battle.