The New York Jets will once again turn to second-year running back Braelon Allen as their primary offensive weapon out of the backfield for Sunday’s pivotal Week 7 divisional matchup against the Miami Dolphins. With dynamic star Breece Hall officially ruled inactive for the contest due to an ongoing quadriceps injury, Allen is primed to shoulder the load for the Jets’ offense for the fourth consecutive week.
Allen, the 22-year-old former Wisconsin standout who signed a four-year, $4.55 million rookie contract with New York in May 2024, has experienced a dramatic shift in his usage and professional trajectory this season. Initially drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft primarily to serve as a power and short-yardage specialist—frequently tasked with moving the chains and punching in touchdowns near the goal line—Allen has quickly proven capable of handling a full bell-cow workload during Hall’s absence.
Over the course of Hall’s three-game absence prior to Week 7, Allen has stepped seamlessly into the lead role, anchoring the Jets’ ground game with impressive durability and efficiency. Across those three starts, Allen has generated formidable averages, handling a heavy volume of 18.3 rush attempts per game while churning out 84.3 rushing yards per contest. In addition to his primary duties on the ground, he has demonstrated reliable hands out of the backfield, averaging 1.7 receptions and 11.3 receiving yards per appearance during the stretch.
His recent surge was punctuated by standout performances, most notably an impressive outing against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 where Allen gashed the defense for 116 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, helping guide the Jets to a 17-12 victory. Even in a hard-fought 26-19 loss to the New England Patriots the following week, Allen continued to prove his reliability by eclipsing the 100-scrimmage-yard mark, turning 17 carries into 78 yards while hauling in both of his targets for an additional 26 yards. Over his last three games filling in for Hall, Allen has accumulated an impressive total of 55 carries for 253 yards and a touchdown.
This extended opportunity stands in stark contrast to Allen’s usage when the backfield is fully healthy. During the first three weeks of the 2026 campaign while Hall was active, Allen was limited to just 19 total carries. However, his strong performances and steady production while filling the void have sparked internal discussions regarding a potential shift in philosophy for the Jets’ backfield distribution moving forward.
The upcoming matchup presents a unique challenge for Allen and the New York offense. The Miami Dolphins enter Sunday’s contest looking to reverse a difficult winless start to their season, but their defense has nonetheless shown resilience against opposing ground attacks. Miami has proven respectable at defending the run, limiting opposing running backs to an average of 4.0 yards per carry. At the same time, the Dolphins’ defensive unit has occasionally shown vulnerability through the air when defending the position, having conceded a combined receiving line of 25 receptions for 197 yards and five touchdowns to opposing running backs this season. This dynamic could open up additional opportunities for Allen to contribute as a pass-catcher if the Jets opt to exploit those specific defensive matchups.
The timeline for Allen’s extended run as the unquestioned RB1 remains fluid. Whispers surrounding the Jets’ practice facility earlier in the week suggested that a return might be on the horizon for Hall, who returned to practice on a limited basis for the first time since sustaining his quadriceps injury in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions. While reports from local media outlets expressed optimism that Hall could test his recovery ahead of Sunday, the training staff and coaching staff ultimately decided to exercise caution, keeping the star running back sidelined for at least one more week and ensuring that Allen remains the focal point of the offensive game plan.
As Allen prepares to lead the offense against Miami, his trajectory continues to mirror the physical style of play that defined his collegiate career in Wisconsin. Entering the league as a remarkably young prospect who did not turn 21 until January 2025, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound back has leaned heavily on his imposing size, natural leverage, and raw power. While questions regarding his top-end speed and agility initially led analysts to pigeonhole him strictly as a short-yardage and goal-line option—while fellow 2024 draft pick Isaiah Davis and other rotational backs vied for supplementary snaps—Allen’s recent performances have forced a reevaluation of his ceiling within the New York offense.
Whether Allen can maintain a significant share of the workload once Hall returns to full health remains one of the more compelling subplots for the Jets’ offense as the season progresses past the midway point. For now, however, the coaching staff’s immediate focus rests entirely on executing a game plan that relies heavily on Allen’s shoulders to navigate a tough divisional test against the Dolphins.
