Braelon Allen suffered an MCL sprain in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season and has yet to make his return for the New York Jets. He has been expected to do so at some point this year, but recent developments may impact his recovery timeline.
The Jets have just a 1-7 record this year and were sellers at the trade deadline, suggesting they are already turning their focus to beyond this season. This could potentially influence how they approach their running back’s knee injury.
Braelon Allen Injury Update and Potential Timeline for a Return
Allen received encouraging news regarding his initial injury diagnosis when it was determined that he hadn’t torn any ligaments in his knee. If he had, it surely would have been a season-ending injury, but an MCL sprain put him on track to eventually make a return. Jets reporter Rich Cimini was one of the first to give an update after it occurred in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins.
“Braelon Allen is looking at an 8-12 week return, per Aaron Glenn. He could rehab it or have surgery. Either way, same timetable. So we’re talking about late November or early December in a best-case scenario,” reported Cimini.
If the timeline is accurate, Allen should be expected to miss at least the next three weeks, if not more. An optimistic return date would be in Week 12 when they take on the Baltimore Ravens, but the Jets have no incentive to rush him back at this point.
Their 1-7 record all but eliminates them from the playoff race, and their activity at the trade deadline suggests that they accept this fate. They traded away superstars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in exchange for a haul of premium draft picks. This signals their plan to rebuild their roster and focus on future success.
All of this could play a role in when Allen will return to the field this year, if at all. Their priority should be ensuring he is fully healthy for next season, although they have yet to make any official announcement on whether they intend to shut him down. For now, he is still a candidate to make a return at some point in the next month or so.
In his absence, Isaiah Davis has been serving as the primary backup for Breece Hall, who remains in New York, despite being a part of many trade rumors ahead of the deadline. Hall has been one of the few bright spots for the Jets this year, currently ranking fifth in PFSN’s Impact Rankings among all running backs with an 84.5 impact score.
