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CINCINNATI — Breece Hall finally had his breakout game.
The Jets running back, who’s been the subject of trade rumors, rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and threw the game-winning pass on a halfback option to rookie tight end Mason Taylor in the 39-38 win over the Bengals Sunday at Paycor Stadium.
Hall scored his first TD of the season on a 5-yard run with 14:17 remaining in the game to bring the Jets to within 31-24.
Then, his 27-yard scoring run with 7:52 remaining in the game cut the Bengals lead to 38-31.
“I went to the coaches this weekend, not complaining, but letting them know I needed the ball at least 25 times,” Hall said. “I always tell them I hate losing and if we lose I want it to be on me. We pride ourselves on running the ball and we ran the ball really efficient today.”
Indeed, the 254 rushing yards were the most the Jets have produced in a game since 2021. Even Isaiah Davis got into the action with 65 yards on seven carries.
As well as Hall ran, it was his TD pass that was the highlight.
“I got the toss and Mason was open at first, but I couldn’t see him, so in my head I was going to pump-fake and see if he was still open,” Hall said. “I saw the defender [DJ Turner II] with his back turned to me and I thought I’m just going to throw it up to Mason and see if he gets it.
“I didn’t know if he scored, but I turned and looked at all the Bengals fans and were just silent, staring at me. I thought, ‘All, right, we’re in it now.”
Jets LB Quincy Williams rejoined the Jets for the first time since injuring his shoulder in Week 3. The results were mixed. Williams was all over the field, which is on brand for his high-energy style. He had seven tackles, one for a loss and two pass breakups.
“Man, it felt like detention, seeing all my homeboys having fun at recess,” Williams told The Post of sitting out. “When I was out, I told the guys, ‘Get all your tackles now because when I get back I’m gonna be flying around.’ ”
Williams had one badly missed tackle in the open field on a Chase Brown TD catch and run late in the first half. He blamed that on having poor leverage on the tackle.
Curiously, Jets LB Jamien Sherwood, a starter and a defensive captain, did not play on defense in the first half, though he was on kickoff coverage teams. Aaron Glenn said after the game the reason was between him and Sherwood, an indication that it was disciplinary.
The Jets depleted receiving corps, without starters Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds, came up big in the game. Tyler Johnson caught three passes for 64 yards and a TD. Isaiah Williams caught three passes for 31 yards. And rookie Arian Smith caught one for 23 yards.
The Jets receivers in the game entered the day having combined for 18 receptions for 187 yards and a TD.
Nick Folk has made 27 consecutive field goals, tying Miami’s Jason Sanders for the longest active streak across the NFL.
The Jets inactives included CB Sauce Gardner, Wilson, QB Tyrod Taylor, RB Kene Nwangwu, LB Kobe King, DL Jay Tufele and TE Stone Smartt.
With Taylor out, rookie Brady Cook served as the backup QB.
The Bengals inactives were CB Marco Wilson, C Matt Lee, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DT McKinnley Jackson and DE Cam Sample.
