Jets' Breece Hall on 147 Total Yards in Return from ACL Injury: 'I'm Still That Dude'

While most of the focus for the New York Jets during and after their season-opening win against the Buffalo Bills was on the injury to Aaron Rodgers, they did get a great game from Breece Hall in his first appearance since tearing his ACL in Week 7 last year.

Hall declared himself to be "still that dude" after he racked up 147 yards from scrimmage on just 11 touches in the Jets' 22-16 overtime victory.

"Once I got on the field, I was like, 'I'm still that dude. Anytime I touch the ball, I can do whatever I want with it,'" Hall told reporters after the game. "I always had that mentality, but I was just happy the coaches stuck with me today. They said I was going to have a pitch count before the game, but I told them I don't want a pitch count, but if I have to, I will. So, they kind of just rolled with me, Dalvin Cook, and MC (Michael Carter) carrying it. So, it was cool."

Rodgers left the game after four snaps when he appeared to suffer an injury to his left ankle. Details of the injury won't be known until the four-time NFL MVP undergoes an MRI on Tuesday, but head coach Robert Saleh said after the game "it's not good" and the expectation is it's an Achilles issue.

While the loss of Rodgers cast a pall over MetLife Stadium, the Jets were able to rebound against a division rival thanks in large part to Hall's effort.

The Jets made an effort not to overwork Hall in his first game since Oct. 23, 2022. He was only on the field for 31 percent of the offensive snaps against the Bills. The 22-year-old averaged 12.7 yards per carry and had an 83-yard scamper early in the second quarter that set up a field goal to tie the score 3-3.

Hall was on his way to being an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate prior to his knee injury last season. He had 681 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns on 99 touches in seven games.

Despite missing the final 10 games, Hall still led the Jets in total touchdowns and finished third in yards from scrimmage.

Given the uncertainty at quarterback going forward, the Jets will likely rely heavily on the running game going forward. Hall's performance against a good Bills defense is an encouraging sign that they can create a lot of explosive plays on the ground.

Dalvin Cook's presence also eases some of the burden on Hall's legs. The four-time Pro Bowler didn't have a great game running the football with 33 yards on 13 carries, but he caught all three of his targets for 26 yards.

The Jets will be tested again in Week 2 when they take on the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.