Breece Hall says threats directed at him and his family prompted him to step away from social media while recovering from a quadriceps injury.
Many speculated he was on the verge of being traded after he deleted his accounts. He said many were questioning how injured he really was.
The New York Jets running back addressed the messages Thursday as he prepared for a possible return against the Kansas City Chiefs. Hall attributed his account deletions to the harassment he received during his absence.
“I’ve had people threatening me and my family on social media,” he said. “So that’s not something that’s good for your mental health that you should be looking at. So I’m just like, all right, if people think it’s that serious, if you’re willing to go that low, then it’s like nothing that I need to look at.”
Hall said some people had questioned whether his injury was legitimate. His decision to remove the accounts had generated trade speculation, but his explanation centered on avoiding the messages and the toll of reading them.
He had missed five games with the quad injury. According to Cimini, Hall said the reaction intensified after he was listed as questionable for the previous two games and ultimately did not play.
Breece Hall explains why his recovery took time
Hall’s comments also offered a clearer picture of why returning to practice had not immediately led to a return on Sundays.
In the Jets’ account of his Thursday availability, Hall described lingering soreness and stiffness after workouts. He explained that playing before those symptoms settled could jeopardize his recovery, particularly given how much his position demands from his legs.
Braelon Allen’s production gave the Jets another option while Hall worked back. Allen has rushed for 504 yards since Week 4, including a career-best 147 against the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
That helps explain both sides of Hall’s situation: New York had a productive replacement, while Hall still needed to get through practice without the same physical setbacks.
Hall moves closer to returning against the Chiefs
Thursday brought a measurable step forward. Hall was upgraded from limited participation Wednesday to full participation Thursday, his first full session since the injury.
“I’m ready to play Sunday,” Hall said.
The Thursday report did not include a final game designation, so Hall’s statement and his practice upgrade should not be confused with an official announcement that he will be active.
His return would also require the Jets to distribute work between two backs who expect to contribute. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Thursday that Hall remained the lead option but that both players would be used, with decisions during the game helping determine the distribution.
Hall, meanwhile, credited Allen and the offensive line for their recent play. He told reporters he was comfortable sharing opportunities.
“I’ve always been the advocate of when Braelon comes in,” Hall said. “He loves the ball, so that’s never been a problem for me. I think it’s just been a product of the O-line starting to play really well and Braelon’s been playing really well. So I think no matter who’s in there is going to be successful.”
The next step is getting back on the field. For now, Hall has explained why he stayed off social media and why being back at practice did not mean he was immediately ready to play.
