The New York Jets left Detroit with a second straight late-game loss, a growing injury list and fresh concern over running back Breece Hall after a 31-24 defeat to the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.
Hall hurt his right thigh early in the fourth quarter after being forced out of bounds. He stayed down briefly and grabbed the area before leaving the game, saying afterward that he felt something while running and then felt more pain when he planted after the tackle.
The Jets running back expects to undergo an MRI on Monday. A significant absence would further strain an offense already missing several contributors.
Quick facts
- New York fell to 1-2 after losing its second consecutive game in the closing minutes.
- Breece Hall suffered a right-thigh injury and is expected to have an MRI Monday.
- Geno Smith completed 31 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns.
- Garrett Wilson posted 10 receptions for 107 yards, including a 23-yard tying touchdown.
- Detroit’s Jared Goff led a four-play, 65-yard winning drive after the Jets tied the game late.
New York played without wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who has a finger injury, and tight end Mason Taylor, sidelined by a thumb issue. The absences forced the Jets to elevate practice-squad help.
Left guard Dylan Parham injured his knee during the game and did not return. Wilson also missed New York’s final offensive snap while being checked for a concussion, though coach Aaron Glenn said the receiver cleared the evaluation and was fine.
Even with those setbacks, the Jets fought back from a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit. Smith threw his second and third scoring passes of the afternoon, and Wilson’s twisting 23-yard catch while falling backward made it 24-24 with 4:06 remaining.
The defense could not protect that momentum. Detroit answered immediately as Goff moved the Lions 65 yards in four plays, aided by a 49-yard completion to Isaac TeSlaa on a deep crossing route. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood and cornerback Brandon Stephens were the nearest defenders on the play.
Jahmyr Gibbs then finished the drive on an 11-yard touchdown reception. On third-and-5 from the New York 11, defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. came on a slot pressure, but Gibbs slipped out of the backfield uncovered and scored easily.
Glenn did not fault a single coverage call for TeSlaa’s long gain, saying Detroit executed well. He said the Jets are working to close the narrow gap that has separated them from wins, both in coaching and execution.
Gibbs ended the day with three touchdowns and 164 yards from scrimmage. Brownlee, who drew a damaging unnecessary-roughness penalty in overtime of last week’s loss to Green Bay, was unavailable after Sunday’s game.
The Jets still had one last chance. Smith drove the offense to the Detroit 28, but former Jets safety Chuck Clark broke through on a blitz and hit Smith from the blind side for a strip sack that ended the game.
Smith accepted responsibility for the final play, though running back Braelon Allen appeared to miss the blitz pickup. The quarterback said the offense simply failed to finish the job.
It spoiled one of Smith’s strongest performances for New York. He became the first Jets quarterback to top 300 passing yards since Aaron Rodgers in Week 18 of the 2024 season, and the first to throw for at least 300 yards and three scores since Mike White in 2022.
Wilson’s 107-yard day and a breakout showing from rookie tight end Kenyon, who caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, gave the Jets production through the air. But the club remains stuck at 1-2 after letting a 10-point fourth-quarter lead disappear in an overtime loss to the Packers last week and then failing to hold a late tie against Detroit.
Tight end Jeremy Ruckert said the Jets believe their record could easily be 3-0. Stephens said every player must examine what needs to change when close games reach the final moments.
