Breece Hall Questionable as Jets Face Raiders Sunday

Breece Hall is questionable again for the New York Jets, and the Jets defense will be short at least one starter when the Las Vegas Raiders come to MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Hall practiced on a limited basis all week with his quad injury, and Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Friday the team wants him to hit certain markers in his rehab before he plays in a game.

The stakes are real for a 2-5 team that has dropped two straight, most recently 28-25 to Miami. The Raiders are 3-4 and have lost four in a row, so somebody's skid ends Sunday.

Hall's Status and the Braelon Allen Question

Hall has missed four straight games, and his availability is still up in the air heading into the weekend. The Jets are clearly not rushing it, and Glenn's comments about rehab markers say they want him fully ready before he plays.

The good news for the Jets is that the backfield has not fallen apart without him. Braelon Allen has posted two 100-yard rushing games in Hall's absence, and Yahoo Sports noted he has averaged 105.3 yards from scrimmage as the lead back. Allen was also upgraded to a full participant on Thursday after dealing with an ankle issue, so he looks set to go either way.

The Defense Takes Two Hits

The bigger worry might be up front on defense. Nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat was ruled out Friday with a knee injury, and rookie edge rusher David Bailey is doubtful with a strained groin after missing practice all week. Both got hurt in the Miami loss.

The numbers that matter:

• 153 rushing yards per game allowed by the Jets since Week 3, 31st in the NFL

• 5.5 sacks for Bailey, the team lead

• 366 pounds of run stopper gone with Sweat, who came over from Tennessee in an offseason trade

Rookie Darrell Jackson Jr. is expected to step in for Sweat, and Will McDonald IV would replace Bailey. "Losing [Sweat], I mean, that's always a huge deal for us," Glenn said. "But the thing is we've got guys behind him that are going to come in and do a good job for us."

Ashton Jeanty Gave the Jets Some Fuel

There is also a little bulletin board material in this one. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty told Las Vegas reporters on Wednesday, "They have a couple of guys out there that don't really want to tackle." He did not name anybody.

Glenn brushed it off. "Words are always said between players, and that's just what it is. Our guys will be ready to play," he said. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said it adds "a little more fuel to the fire," but that he still has to go do his job.

The funny part is that Jeanty has not been running hot himself. He had only 15 yards in last week's 35-21 loss to the Rams, he is averaging 3.1 yards per carry, and the Raiders rank 31st in rushing offense. Something has to give between a bad run game and a banged up run defense.

My Smacktok lean: if Hall sits again, go higher on Braelon Allen's rushing yards. He has two 100-yard games and 105.3 scrimmage yards per game as the lead back, and he got back to full practice on Thursday.