Things seem to be going from bad to worse for the New York Jets, who have lost six of their past seven games.
Star running back Breece Hall sat out practice earlier this week with a knee injury, and it was uncertain if he would play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks in East Rutherford, N.J.
“We’re going to protect him from himself a little bit, but we’ll see how the week goes along,” Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said of Hall, who has 632 yards rushing along with 46 catches for 401 yards and six total touchdowns this season. “Still hopeful that he’s going to play for us, but we’ll see.”
Ulbrich said Hall injured his knee in a 28-27 loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 17, though he was able to finish the game. The Jets (3-8) had a bye last week.
In addition, veteran offensive tackle Tyron Smith, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, remains out for New York due to a neck injury.
Ulbrich admitted Smith, who sat out the Indianapolis game, could be headed to injured reserve.
“Just not enough improvement at this point,” Ulbrich said of Smith.
The Jets hope to get linebacker C.J. Mosley (herniated neck disk) back after he was sidelined the past four games. Wide receiver Malachi Corley (illness) didn’t practice on Wednesday.
New York quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who turns 41 Monday, wasn’t among those listed on the injury report Wednesday for the first time since late September.
There have been questions about whether Rodgers wants to play next season, and if so whether he’d return to the Jets.
“Football life is interesting because there’s no guarantees,” Rodgers said. “Even with injuries, obviously, with contract situations, with age, with coaching changes, new scheme possibly, new system. There’s a lot of unknowns, so that stuff is out of my control.
“I’m just going to enjoy these times here and let the future take care of itself.”
Ulbrich is sticking with Rodgers.
“Definitely, as long as he’s healthy, my plan is to play him,” Ulbrich said. “And I know talking to him, that’s the way he wants to do it, too.”
The streaky Seahawks (6-5) are back to their winning ways and are tied with the Arizona Cardinals atop the NFC West. After opening the season by going 3-0, Seattle lost five of its next six games before winning its past two against division rivals.
Coach Mike Macdonald’s defense has been much improved since a bye in Week 10, as the Seahawks defeated the host San Francisco 49ers 20-17 and visiting Arizona 16-6 over the past two weeks.
“Three games in a row now we played pretty decent on defense,” Macdonald said. “There is an expectation and standard here throughout the course of our Seahawks history that we’re trying to live up to and build on. So that’s the idea.”
Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown and Leonard Williams had 2 1/2 sacks against the Cardinals.
Williams said a team leadership meeting during the Seahawks’ bye week altered the players’ mindsets.
“I think that made it just crunch time for us,” Williams said. “We just understood the urgency of getting the job done.”
Williams (foot) was one of four Seahawks to miss practice on Wednesday due to ailments, though he has been on the injured list most of the season and he has sat out just one game. Also sidelined were receivers DK Metcalf (shoulder) and Tyler Lockett (knee), as well as recently acquired safety AJ Finley (knee).
