After Braelon Allen, the Jets' rookies are struggling to make contributions

The hardest part of Braelon Allen's rookie season with the Jets is the same challenge faced by the veterans on the team – how poorly they played.

“I’ve never been through a phase like the one we’re going through right now,” Allen said of his rookie season. “I’m just learning how to be a professional and how to deal with all of this. I just come to work every day, no matter how things go. I’m trying to get better and contribute to the team.”

Allen is one of the few Jets rookies to contribute this season. He has 49 carries for 187 yards and two touchdowns. The fourth-round pick from Wisconsin has become the Jets' short yardage back since Todd Downing took over. Last week against the Patriots, he had a season-high 12 runs and scored a touchdown.

Finding answers in the running game hasn't been easy for Allen and the Jets this year. But the Jets seemed more comfortable running the ball against the Patriots, and interim coach Jeff Ulbrich has placed emphasis on the running game.

“We’ve definitely made some progress,” Allen said. “We’re getting it going. It's a process. I think the boys are doing well up front. Me and Breece (Hall) just have to take advantage of the opportunities and make the most of them.”

Allen, who is the NFL's youngest player at 20, lamented the team's performance. The Jets entered Thursday in the midst of a five-game losing streak against the Texans.

“It sucks,” Allen said. “It's disappointing. We all know we should play better. We all strive to grow and play better. It's not over yet. We still have many games ahead of us. We have a great team and great leaders and a group of people who can do this.”

Allen said the offense tried to move things along more quickly against the Texans after suffering three timeouts in the first quarter against the Patriots and a delay-of-game penalty on a 2-point conversion attempt.

“That’s a big focus,” Allen said. “It hurts us to have to take time outs and take penalties. We have to do better.”

While Allen contributed on offense, the Jets didn't get much else from this rookie class. Here's a look at how the other rookies are faring at the halfway point of the season:

Olu Fashanu

Offensive tackle, first round

Fashanu started two games when right tackle Morgan Moses was sidelined with a knee injury. Fashanu, who played left tackle at Penn State, struggled in his starts. He has played in every game this season, mostly on special teams. At times he was a third tackle.

Malachi Corley

Wide receiver, third round

The Jets have barely used Corley this season, which is a little surprising. They have plenty of wide receivers, but Corley has a unique skill set that one would think the Jets would want to take advantage of. He is very raw and may still need to earn the trust of the coaches. Corley has been inactive for four games and has made just one catch this season. Corley should play a larger role with Allen Lazard now placed on injured reserve for at least four games.

Jordan Travis

Quarterback, fifth round

This is a redshirt season for Travis, who suffered a horrific leg injury last year at Florida State. This season he's learning from Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor and can compete for a role next year.

Isaiah Davis

Running back, fifth round

Davis played in every game, primarily as a kick returner. He played sparingly on offense with just four runs scored.

Qwan'tez Stiggers

Cornerback, fifth round

Stiggers has played in every game on special teams and has shown promise in coverage. He only played one defensive snap.

Jaylen Key

Security, seventh round

Mr. Irrelevant has moved back and forth between the training group and outside the squad. He's currently off the roster, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the Jets brought him back to the practice squad at some point.