Breece Hall’s injury puts more pressure on Jets’ Zach Wilson

Subtract a team’s leading rusher, add pressure to the quarterback to fill the void.

Simple football math is about to challenge the Jets and put quarterback Zach Wilson back under the microscope.

Running back Breece Hall’s season-ending torn ACL — and the loss of a rookie with a touchdown in each of the Jets’ four straight wins and a team-high 681 yards from scrimmage — sent a ripple through the organization that included a trade for James Robinson. There already were doubts about whether a winning formula that minimized the passing attack is sustainable in today’s NFL, but asking more from Wilson now is inevitable beginning Sunday against the Patriots.

“Whether Breece is here or not, we need more out of the passing game,” Wilson said after Thursday’s practice. “We’re leaving some plays out there on the field. We just need to be able to execute and do our offense. I feel like we’re in a good spot, and everyone is feeling confident. We’re winning games. In the pass game, we would like to be more efficient regardless.”

Wilson has gone three straight games without throwing a touchdown pass and averaged 13 completions for 115.5 yards and a 73.2 quarterback rating in the back-to-back wins against the Broncos and Packers, who rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in passing yards allowed per game.

“It’s about finding that right balance for him and the whole offense,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “Not being necessarily 50/50 run/pass, but finding the right balance for how to attack these guys so they are not onto us. I have to do a good job of getting these guys … in a rhythm.”

The Patriots rank No. 4 in defensive completion percentage (58.9). While another tip of the cap is due across the line of scrimmage — as the Jets keep reminding everyone — Wilson wants to be measured against the best.

“I’m looking forward to facing these top defenses for that exact reason: How good can we be?” Wilson said. “We haven’t shown that yet in the pass game. We’re almost more optimistic looking up to this game because of that. It’s another challenge for us as an offense, as a passing unit, to be able to go to execute. I think we have the ability to do that, so I’m excited.”

Wilson displayed mesmerizing off-schedule playmaking ability at BYU, but the Jets have stressed ball security and decision-making over his first 17 career starts. He has gone three straight games without an interception (matching his touchdown-less streak) but looks unnatural at times going too far in the other direction and throwing the ball away rather than making tight-window throws.

“It was tough to lose Breece, but everyone within our offensive system has to step up and Zach is going to put a lot of pressure on himself,” quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese said. “Protecting the football is what’s most important for him.”

Since Wilson went 10 of 12 for 128 yards and led two touchdown drives to rally the Jets from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit against the Steelers in the highlight of his injury-shortened season, the Jets only have trailed for 3:37 of the last three games combined. So, there hasn’t been a lot of reason to stray from ground and pound.

“Zach is a ton better than he was a year ago, and he’s going to continue to get better,” head coach Robert Saleh said. “There’s just small little details that we’re always going to strive for. There’s four or five passes where we’re always going to want back, but I’m not sounding the alarm on the pass game yet.”

To complicate matters, Wilson now has a receiver unhappy with his targets (Elijah Moore) returning to the lineup. In the back of his mind, will he force throws?

“That would be the natural response,” Calabrese said, “but within this building, what we’re trying to do on offense, everything is playing within the system. Don’t do too much. When there are plays to be made because [read] number one is open, make the play. Anytime you try to step outside of that is when [bad] things start happening.”

If the Patriots devise a game plan that forces Wilson to be the equalizer, the Jets are confident.

“He’s more than ready,” running back Michael Carter said. “He’s shown that he can win in multiple ways.”