Preparation for this season didn’t start in the spring for Braelon Allen. It didn’t begin when he arrived for training camp.
“My approach started in October once I got off that operation table and got to work on the rehab,” the young Jets running back said Tuesday. “I knew exactly what I needed to do.”
Allen didn’t sugarcoat the significance of the upcoming season. It’s incredibly important, after appearing in only four games last year due to a major knee injury.
The former fourth-round pick showed flashes as a rookie, running for 334 yards and scoring three touchdowns in 2024. But then, while returning a kickoff in a Sept. 29 game against the Dolphins, he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and missed the final 13 games.
“This is huge. Obviously with last year being cut short for me, right when I felt like I was getting into a groove and getting my feet under me, it definitely sucked,” the 6-foot-1, 245-pound bruiser said. “This year I don’t want to think too much about personal goals or anything like that, but just trying to establish myself and earn respect from my teammates and around the league. Prove myself as a workhorse back.”
It was a difficult 2025 for Allen. There was excitement about what he could be alongside Breece Hall. In training camp last August, coach Aaron Glenn felt the two had the potential to be for the Jets what the Lions had with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Hall would be the speedster and Allen the physical downhill runner, a 1-2 punch that could wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
But Allen suffered that knee injury, the most severe injury of his career. He had never been away from the sport for that long.
It was challenging, spending so much time off to the side rehabbing without his teammates. It was a helpless feeling, watching the losses pile up and not being able to help.
Now he’s back — and excited to start hitting people. Monday he put on pads for the first time since the injury.
“That’s kind of where my game comes to life,” Allen said with a smile. “Being a bigger back, a physical back, it’s like riding a bike essentially. It’s downhill and go, that’s what my coach preaches to me. I was excited to be able to do that again.”
There is again optimism the Hall-Allen combo could be dynamic, especially behind an offensive line that returns four starters and features promising young tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou.
“Those dudes are dogs. They’re violent, they’re physical, they’re smart, they get the job done play in and play out,” he said. “I’m definitely excited to get a full year behind those guys.”
Clearly, Allen is eager to get going for real Sept. 13 against the Titans. When the ball is kicked off that day, it will have been almost a calendar year since his knee injury.
“I know exactly what this year has to look like for me,” he said. “It’s been a process, it’s been ongoing for 11 months now. I’m ready to go.”
The Jets running game was solid a year ago, tied for 10th in the NFL in yards per game at 123.3. A healthy Allen could improve that attack, especially if the aforementioned offensive line continues to develop. It should also improve with a more capable quarterback under center in veteran Geno Smith who keeps defenses honest.
