New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and running back Breece Hall are doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins due to injuries.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Friday that both players are likely to miss the game, “barring something magical happening the next couple of days.” Neither Gardner nor Hall practiced during the week.
Gardner injured his hamstring late in the Jets’ loss to Seattle last Sunday. Hall had a knee injury last week, but played through it and gained 60 yards on 12 carries. However, this week, he experienced more problems with his knee, including what Ulbrich described as “a little bit of an MCL, a little bit of a hyperextension.”
Ulbrich also announced that linebacker C.J. Mosley will be placed on injured reserve, ending his attempt to return from a herniated disk in his neck, which has kept him out of the last five games. He had returned to practice last week and had a full practice on Wednesday. However, he had a setback and didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday.
“It was a hard decision for him, but it’s the best decision for him and our organization,” Ulbrich said.
This could mark the end of Mosley’s six-year stint with the Jets, as he still has one year left on his contract, which includes $4.25 million in guarantees but would count $12.8 million on the salary cap next season.
Wide receiver Allen Lazard (chest) and offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer (finger) are expected to be activated from injured reserve and will be available for the game, as both fully participated in practice this week.
With Gardner out, Brandin Echols is likely to start opposite D.J. Reed at cornerback. Ulbrich had already expressed doubts about Gardner’s ability to play due to the injury, especially against the Dolphins’ fast wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
“It’s huge,” Ulbrich said of not having Gardner. “It’s tough. But we’re fortunate to have Brandin Echols, who’s played a lot of football and has played well against the Dolphins.”
Echols has faced Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa several times and has had success, intercepting him twice and returning both for touchdowns.
“Would you like Sauce? There’s no doubt,” Ulbrich said. “But having Echols is a very good backup in this situation.”
Hall, who leads the Jets with 692 rushing yards and four touchdowns, along with 46 catches for 401 yards and two touchdowns, is dealing with another injury to his left knee—the same knee where he tore his ACL two years ago.
“Just not feeling quite right,” Ulbrich said of Hall’s knee.
With Hall out, rookies Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, and Kene Nwangwu are expected to step up. Allen, a fourth-round pick, has 240 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Davis, a fifth-round pick, has 22 rushing yards and a touchdown catch from last week.
Nwangwu, mostly a special teams player, was named AFC special teams player of the week after returning a kickoff for a touchdown last Sunday.
“We are fortunate in that way, too, from the running back depth, minus Breece, who’s in my opinion one of the best backs in this league,” Ulbrich said. “We still have one of the best running back rooms in the NFL without him.”
Offensive lineman Xavier Newman was added to the injury report on Friday with a groin injury and is listed as questionable for the game. Other players listed as questionable include left tackle Olu Fashanu (toe), right tackle Morgan Moses (knee/shoulder), right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, and cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers (illness). Ulbrich said they were all expected to play.
