After suffering a knee injury during the New York Jets’ 27-21 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 4, running back Braelon Allen was diagnosed with an MCL sprain that landed him on injured reserve and sidelined him for at least four games.
A clearer timeline later emerged, indicating he was expected to miss eight to 12 weeks.
Now, as the Jets prepare for their Week 13 matchup, head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed the Wisconsin product is most likely out for the remainder of the season.
“Most likely, he is done for the season, and he will get himself ready for next season,” Glenn told reporters on Friday.
Allen suffered the injury while returning a kick in the second quarter of the Jets’ Week 4 loss, his second straight game handling kickoffs, despite not having returned one since high school.
“When we talk about everybody on our roster, we are always looking to use the talent that God has blessed them with,” Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo told reporters, regarding his thought process to line up Allen on kick returns. “On a week-to-week basis, we are always looking to find and use skill sets that can be advantageous for us.”
As the Jets enter December with a rough 2-9 record, there’s no sense pushing Allen back into harm’s way. Letting him heal fully, instead of rushing him back on the field, is the wise decision by Glenn and company.
Second-year back Isaiah Davis will hold down the Jets’ No. 2 running back role for the rest of the season, serving as the reliable complement behind Breece Hall.