Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets

As the New York Jets enter the final critical weeks of their playoff push, the team has announced set absences for three key members—starting running back Breece Hall, Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner, and special teams coordinator Brant Boyer—dealing a significant blow to their hopes of securing an AFC East title and deep postseason run. The absences, confirmed via the Jets’ official website and head coach Robert Saleh’s press conference, vary in cause: Hall will miss 2-3 weeks with a Grade 1 ankle sprain, Gardner is sidelined indefinitely for personal reasons, and Boyer will be out for at least one game due to a minor medical procedure. With the Jets (10-4) currently holding the AFC’s No. 5 seed and set to face the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots in back-to-back divisional matchups, these absences force urgent adjustments to both the team’s roster and game plan. Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets explores the details of each absence, the replacements tasked with stepping up, and how the Jets aim to stay competitive despite these setbacks.

The most impactful on-field absence is Hall’s, as the running back has been the engine of the Jets’ offense this season. Through 14 games, Hall has rushed for 1,124 yards (fourth-most in the NFL) and 8 touchdowns, while adding 35 receptions for 287 yards—making him the team’s second-leading receiver behind Garrett Wilson. His ankle sprain, suffered in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ Week 14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, was diagnosed after an MRI revealed no structural damage, but the team has opted for caution to avoid a more severe injury. “Breece is irreplaceable in terms of what he brings to our offense—his speed, his vision, his ability to catch out of the backfield,” Saleh said. “But we have depth at running back, and we’re confident the guys behind him can get the job done.” The Jets plan to lean on backup Michael Carter, who has 342 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns this season, and rookie Israel Abanikanda, a 2023 fifth-round pick who has seen limited action but impressed in practice. Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets frames Hall’s absence as a test of the Jets’ offensive versatility, as they’ll need to shift from a run-heavy approach to a more pass-focused scheme in his absence.

Gardner’s indefinite absence for personal reasons comes as a surprise, as the star cornerback has been a staple of the Jets’ defense all season. Gardner, who has 4 interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and a league-leading 12 forced incompletions, has been the team’s lockdown defender against elite wide receivers—limiting opponents’ top targets to an average of 3.2 catches and 28 yards per game. Saleh declined to elaborate on the nature of Gardner’s personal matter, citing privacy concerns, but emphasized that the team fully supports his decision to step away. “Sauce is more than a player—he’s a member of our family,” Saleh said. “We’ll give him all the time and space he needs, and when he’s ready to return, we’ll welcome him back with open arms.” In Gardner’s absence, the Jets will move nickel cornerback D.J. Reed to outside cornerback (his natural position) and promote practice squad cornerback Javelin Guidry to the active roster. Reed, a former Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, has 2 interceptions and 8 pass breakups this season and has experience covering top wide receivers like the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill. Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets highlights how Gardner’s absence forces a major reshuffling of the Jets’ secondary, which will need to rely on veteran leadership to avoid collapse.

For the New York Jets, Boyer’s one-game absence for a minor medical procedure may seem less significant than the player losses, but it threatens to disrupt a special teams unit that has been a quiet strength this season. Under Boyer’s leadership, the Jets’ special teams rank 6th in the NFL in overall efficiency (per Pro Football Focus), with kicker Greg Zuerlein converting 92% of his field goals and punter Thomas Morstead averaging 47.2 yards per punt. Boyer’s absence for the Jets’ Week 15 matchup against the Dolphins will leave assistant special teams coach Mike Mallory in charge—a role Mallory has prepared for, having worked closely with Boyer for three seasons. “Brant has built a great culture in our special teams room, and Mike knows our schemes inside and out,” Saleh said. “We don’t expect any drop-off, but we’ll miss Brant’s presence on the sideline.” For the New York Jets, special teams have been critical in close games this season—they’ve won four games by 3 points or less, with Zuerlein hitting game-winning field goals in two of them. Mallory’s ability to keep the unit consistent will be key to avoiding a costly mistake against the Dolphins, who have one of the league’s top return units (ranked 4th in kickoff return average). Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets examines how Boyer’s temporary absence tests the depth of the Jets’ coaching staff.

The Jets’ response to these set absences has been marked by rallying around the replacements, with veterans like Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Mosley taking on increased leadership roles. Rodgers has hosted extra film sessions with Carter and Abanikanda to help them learn nuanced details of the Jets’ run scheme, while Mosley has organized defensive meetings to ensure Reed and Guidry are prepared for their expanded roles. “Adversity reveals character, and this team has a lot of it,” Rodgers said. “We’re not going to make excuses—we’re going to adapt. Michael and Israel are ready, D.J. is a Pro Bowler, and Mike has got special teams. We just need to execute.” For the New York Jets, this collective mindset is a product of their earlier struggles this season, when they overcame injuries to offensive linemen and linebackers to stay in the playoff race. Players and coaches alike have emphasized that while the absences are challenging, they also present an opportunity for lesser-known contributors to step into the spotlight. “This is what we’ve been building for—depth and trust in each other,” Saleh said. “When one guy goes down, the next guy up has to be ready. That’s the Jets way.” Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets explores how this leadership and unity are helping the team navigate uncertainty.

As the Jets prepare for their Week 15 matchup against the Dolphins, the set absences have forced a rethink of their game plan—both offensively and defensively. On offense, the Jets will likely rely more on Rodgers’ arm, with Wilson and fellow wide receiver Randall Cobb expected to see increased targets. The team will also incorporate more screen passes and draw plays to leverage Carter’s quickness, as he lacks Hall’s power but is more agile in open space. Defensively, the Jets will use more zone coverage to compensate for Gardner’s absence, with safety Jamal Adams tasked with providing over-the-top help against Hill and Jaylen Waddle. “We’re not going to try to be something we’re not—we’re just going to tweak our scheme to play to our strengths,” defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. For the New York Jets, the adjustments are a reminder of the NFL’s unpredictability—and the importance of flexibility. While the absences are far from ideal, they’ve also pushed the team to grow, with younger players gaining valuable experience and veterans refining their leadership skills. Set Absence for Key Members of the New York Jets concludes by noting that if the Jets can overcome these setbacks, they’ll emerge as a tougher, more resilient team—one better equipped to handle the 高压 of the playoffs. As Saleh put it: “Championship teams don’t fold when things get hard—they rise to the occasion. This is our chance to show we’re that team.”