Jets’ rookie running back Breece Hall suffered a torn ACL and meniscus injury in Sunday’s win over the Jets and will miss the remainder of the 2022 season.
The injury occurred with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. On first and ten from their own 25 yard line, the Jets called Hall’s name for the fourth time. He took the pitch from quarterback Zach Wilson and cut upfield three yards before getting caught in a sea of Jets and Broncos jerseys. Hall fought to keep going as he was brought down, contorting his body in the process.
When the pile cleared, Hall was grabbing for his knee. He was met by teammates and medical staff and helped off the field. Shortly afterward, he was taken to the locker room on the medical cart where it was announced that he would not return. At that point, Hall had carried the ball four times for 72 yards and a touchdown.
ACL tears are one of the most notorious injuries across all of professional sports. There’s really no way around it once it happens either; the player’s season is over and they have to undergo surgery. What complicates Breece’s is the additional damage to the meniscus.
The ACL – short for anterior cruciate ligament – is a small, yet very important, ligament that resides in the middle of the knee. It holds up the upper thigh bone (femur) from coming over the top of the lower shin bone (tibia). The meniscus is a small, crescent-shaped pad of tough, rubbery cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the tibia and the femur.
Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that attach bones to other bones, in a way holding us together. They also generally have a more limited blood supply than either muscle or tendon – lengthening their healing time.
Hall was the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, with 80 carries for 463 yards and four touchdowns in seven games. His 5.8 yards-per-carry ranked #10 in the NFL this season.
