Bills vs. Jets: Robert Saleh Reveals Status of Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook for Week 1
The Buffalo Bills will visit the New York Jets on Sept. 11 as they open the season on Monday Night Football. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will steal the headlines, but the health of New York’s running backs could dictate what the offense looks like early in the year.
On Monday, Jets coach Robert Saleh gave a status update on the health of his backfield.
“We’re in pretty good shape,” Saleh said. “We’re not gonna practice Breece [Hall] but there’s nothing wrong with that, it's just part of the rehab program. But other than that we’re good to go.”
Hall tore his ACL on Oct. 23, which prematurely ended what was turning into an impressive rookie season. In seven games, he rushed 80 times for 463 yards and four scores. His ability to produce explosive plays kept New York’s offense afloat amidst disastrous quarterback play.
The Jets also brought in running back Dalvin Cook to finalize their offseason spending. The former Viking had offseason shoulder surgery, and thus hasn’t had a ton of time to ramp up and get acclimated in his new home. The expectation is for Hall to have priority by season’s end, but his rehab may force Cook into a lead role to start the year.
Saleh was asked specifically if either would be on a snap count for the opener.
“I don’t know if I want to call it a snap count but we are going to be smart with them,” he said. “It’s not that we’re putting a snap count on. They’re just two really good football players.”
The Jets, justifiably, want to protect their veteran passer. Throwing the ball 40 times a game, even with someone as talented as Rodgers, isn’t their formula to success. They want to maintain a balanced offense while protecting their recovering backs.
By the looks of it, Hall and Cook will be playing, albeit with deflated responsibilities. Cook will likely be the main change of pace back and the top option in short-yardage situations, especially in the red zone.
A feature of Rodgers’ offenses in the past has been heavy target shares for running backs. Hall could see a flurry of designed targets on earlier downs if they don’t want him racking up carries from the jump. In hurry-up situations, expect Michael Carter, who Saleh also mentioned in his presser, to make an appearance. If Carter is going to see a disproportionate share of the offense, it will likely be in these early games, where neither back ahead of him is ready to bear a large burden of the offense.
Buffalo can breathe a sigh of relief that New York’s backfield won’t be at full strength until later in the season. Still, the Bills’ run defense should not be much of an issue. Per rbsdm.com, they were 16th in rushing success rate and fifth in expected points added per play against the run. They excel at limiting the home run ball, and with Hall being taken off the field, that threat is somewhat diminished.
The real threat to Buffalo’s defense is the future Hall of Famer under center. Keeping Rodgers off schedule will go a long way in taking an early lead in the AFC East.
