Sauce Gardner, Breece Hall injuries could give Jets youngsters starting opportunity

When the Jets face the Dolphins on Sunday, two of their stars — running back Breece Hall and cornerback Sauce Gardner — likely won’t play.

It’d take “something magical happening” for them to overcome knee and hamstring injuries, respectively, and “doubtful” designations in time, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said. 

The Jets have plenty of experience to rely on for replacing Gardner, with Brandin Echols positioned to start alongside D.J. Reed.

Echols has collected two pick-sixes against Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in past meetings, too. It doesn’t simplify the challenge of replacing an All-Pro cornerback, but the solution contains a tinge of familiarity. 

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Gang Green’s options to replace Hall, though, revolve around youth. Around two running backs with 24 combined games and another one with 38 career appearances but just 88 rushing yards.

Still, for 60 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium, rookies Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis appear set to take the bulk of the handoffs, with Kene Nwangwu — whose Jets debut featured a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Sunday — also available. 

“It’s definitely what you want,” Allen told The Post of the chance for him and Davis. “Obviously, you don’t want it in that way, where somebody at your position is unable to play because of injury, but an opportunity is an opportunity.” 

Ulbrich expected the backup running backs to still “take care of business” even without Hall, who didn’t practice all week.

There was a “little bit of a MCL, little bit of a hyperextension” involved with his injury, Ulbrich said, and the third-year running back — who has collected 692 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season, which he called the “most trying year” of his life — wasn’t feeling right. He also tore the ACL in that same left knee as a rookie in 2022. 

Since returning last season, Hall hadn’t missed a game.

There were times this year when Allen, a fourth-round pick, snatched some carries from him and a snap Sunday when Davis — the Jets’ fifth-round selection in April — scored his first career touchdown, but against Miami, they’ll have a rare chance to handle the bulk of the carries. 

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It’s not as clear-cut of a fix as plugging Echols in for Gardner, who also didn’t practice all week.

But as a lost season winds down, as the losses string together, as the vision shifts away from the present, the Jets’ distribution of carries could help provide a glimpse at how Allen and Davis could fit into their long-term blueprint behind Hall. 

“It’s just an opportunity to show what we can do,” Davis told The Post. “I feel like our running back room, there should be no drop-off. So whatever happens with Breece on Sunday, whatever decision he makes, running backs just gotta go and prove that the next guy up is just as good — or if not better.” 

WR Allen Lazard (chest) and OL Wes Schweitzer (finger) will be activated off injured reserve and play Sunday. … Offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle), Olu Fashanu (toe), Morgan Moses (knee/shoulder) and Xavier Newman (groin) were all listed as questionable after being limited participants Friday, while Qwan’tez Stiggers (illness) drew a “questionable” designation after practicing fully. … OL John Simpson (illness), who didn’t practice Thursday, participated fully Friday and didn’t enter the weekend with an injury designation.