The Jets turned to their young running backs Sunday in the team's 32-26 overtime loss to the Dolphins in South Florida.
With RB Breece Hall sidelined because of a knee injury, rookie RBs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis combined for all 83 of the team's rushing yards on 21 carries (4.0 avg) and had 7 catches for 65 yards.
Davis, a fifth-round pick out of South Dakota State, scored the Jets' first touchdown, which gave the visitors a 10-3 lead. It was the Green & White's first TD at Miami since 2021.
Allen, the bruising fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin, started in place of Hall, but was more effective through the air early. He took the first play of the offense's first possession 7 yards on the ground but caught 2 passes for 22 yards later that drive. Each resulted in a first down and his 12-yard catch-and-run put the Green & White inside the red zone. Anders Carlson then put the Jets ahead, 3-0.
Throughout the game, play-caller Todd Downing and QB Aaron Rodgers turned to Davis and Allen to convert on crucial downs that resulted in points.
Down by 15-13 at halftime, Davis helped the Jets regain the lead on their first drive of the second half with a conversion on fourth-and-2 from the Dolphins' 18-yard line. Rodgers connected with Davis for 15 yards (11 yards after the catch) before WR Davante Adams scored on the next play to put the Jets up, 20-15.
Davis then extended the offense's next series, a 14-play drive that chewed 7:49 off the clock and resulted in 3 points. The South Dakota State product had a 10-yard catch-and-run on third-and-8 at the Jets' 22-yard line. Carlson's 40-yard field goal, his third of the day, put the Green & White up by 23-15.
"I thought I was good," Davis said. "Definitely things I can clean up. I can execute better on some things. It was alright, though. … Definitely several ways to improve. Some good tape to watch this week."
Allen, in the fourth quarter, took a direct snap on third-and-1 on the Jets' 37-yard line and powered up the middle for 2 yards and a first down. Carlson then gave the Jets their final lead of the game, 26-23, with a 42-yard kick.
Both backs ran behind an offensive line that included fellow rookie Olu Fashau, who made his third consecutive start at left tackle in place of the injured Tyron Smith (neck). Max Mitchell finished the game at right tackle for Morgan Moses, who sustained a wrist injury pregame.
"They played great," Davis said of his blockers. "We definitely had some lanes. Aaron had some time, Garrett [Wilson] and Tae [Davante Adams] both had over 100 yards. I feel like they played good day."
Left guard John Simpson, who played with Moses last season in Baltimore, added: "I was just giving him [Moses] all the praises. I don't know if it's out there or not, but an injury like that is crazy. For him to go out there and be able to compete and play is huge. Then Max coming in and being able to fill his shoes is also big. We have a lot of guys that are battle tested and ready to go play. For Max to come in and do what he did, I'm not surprised at all."