Jets’ grittiness, ability to deal with adversity is about to be tested significantly

DENVER — Throughout the preseason and the first seven games of the season, the Jets have been able to deal with whatever adversity has come their way.

That will be tested significantly after Sunday’s 16-9 victory against the Broncos.

After most wins, teams would be excited, blasting music and celebrating as the Jets are 5-2 for the first time since 2010. But this victory felt a bit different as the injury bug made its way to Gang Green’s locker room as it lost three key contributors in the win against Denver.

The biggest was rookie running back Breece Hall who he left the game in the first half due to a knee injury after Patrick Surtain II and Jonas Griffith brought him down. The initial diagnosis is Hall tore his ACL, which means he would miss the remainder of the 2022 season. Not only did Hall go down with an injury, but so did wide receiver Corey Davis and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker.

While the Jets have tried to be patient with its passing game through Zach Wilson’s struggles, Hall has provided them with an identity. His 62-yard touchdown accounted for the only Jets touchdown of the game.

Hall has rushed for 463 yards and four touchdowns in seven games on 80 attempts this season.

“He’s a heck of a football player,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said about Hall. “Whenever you lose great football players, it’s never good.

“We also have a lot of faith in Ty Johnson, in Michael Carter and Bam [Zonovan] Knight as a rookie as he will get his opportunities. There are still a lot of opportunities for guys on our team and will be a big part of us moving forward.”

Dealing with injuries and adversity is nothing new for the Jets this year. In training camp, the Jets lost right tackle Mekhi Becton to a season-ending knee injury. Then quarterback Zach Wilson injured his meniscus and suffered a bone bruise during the Jets preseason opener against the Eagles, putting him on the shelf for seven weeks.

Then Becton’s replacement Duane Brown, who was signed during training camp, injured his shoulder and was placed on injured reserve, which meant he missed the first four weeks of the regular season. Also, the Jets have tackles Max Mitchell (knee) and George Fant (knee) on injured reserve following separate injuries.

And this week, wide receiver Elijah Moore, who was upset about his lack of targets in the Jets offense, was left at home and made inactive for Sunday’s game against the Broncos.

Despite all that, the Jets find themselves 5-2 and in the middle of a playoff race in the AFC. Also, Gang green is just a half a game out of first place in the AFC East, as the Bills are 5-1.

The way the Jets have been winning games hasn’t been pretty, with defense, special teams and running the football leading the way. But they’ve continued to win games despite the lack of a consistent passing game from Wilson and not scoring a ton of points.

Saleh said after the team’s season-opening loss to the Ravens that he and the Jets were keeping receipts of everyone who doubts them. Since that point, the entire locker room has responded.

“We have a team of misfits,” safety Will Parks told the Daily News. “You have a whole bunch of guys that have been cut here, released here. We got a bunch of new guys coming in making statement plays for us.

“It is just a testament to our hard work. You see us in the locker room, we have a different type of bond in here. And we are not satisfied and that’s the biggest thing.

“We are super hungry. People talk bad about us when we win, lose and draw. We have been keeping receipts the whole year and it has been working out for us.”

Now the Jets will need to create a brand new identity in time for a challenging matchup against the Patriots next Sunday. Nearly halfway through the season, the Jets have checked off several accomplishments and goals they set before the start of the season, and a win against the rival Patriots is next on the list.

Gang Green hasn’t defeated the Patriots since 2015, as New England has won the last 12 meetings between the two teams. The Jets were outscored in both meetings 79-19 last season.

Playoff teams can deal with injuries, and the Jets will need to if they continue to prove they are, in fact, a playoff team.

“We can talk about the past all we want and you can say that about 90% of the teams we played have had our number,” Defensive end John Franklin-Myers said. “This is not the same team as last year. Everyone is a little bit more comfortable.

“We have to go out there — and New England Patriots are a good team, but we are a good team also. So that’s how we think about it.”