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Top Israel Abanikanda News
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Won't play Monday
Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the 49ers.
The Jets will roll with running backs Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis for the regular-season opener. Abanikanda will have to wait to make his first appearance of the 2024 season until Week 2 against Tennessee.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Makes case for roster spot
Abanikanda rushed the ball nine times for 83 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 10-6 preseason win over the Giants. He added one reception on one target for six yards.
Abanikanda served as the starting running back due to Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis all sitting out. That Abanikanda suited up indicates his spot on the running back depth chart, though he did make the play of the game when he ran through several attempted tackles for a 45-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. He'll enter cutdown day on the roster bubble, but even if he doesn't stick with the Jets, he should be able to find opportunity elsewhere around the league.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Appears buried on depth chart
Abanikanda rushed the ball six times for 29 yards in Saturday's 15-12 preseason win over the Panthers.
Abanikanda was relatively efficient with his opportunity Saturday, highlighted by a 12-yard gain to kick off the second half. However, he entered the game after both Isaiah Davis and Braelon Allen for the second consecutive week, suggesting he is currently fourth on the running back depth chart. That leaves him with little projectable volume out of the backfield.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Finds end zone in preseason win
Abanikanda rushed six times for 17 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for eight yards in Saturday's 20-17 preseason win over the Commanders.
Abanikanda entered in the second half after rookie fourth-round and fifth-round draft picks Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis played the first half. Allen seems to have cemented himself as the top backup to Breece Hall, leaving Davis and Abanikanda in a competition for the third spot on the running back depth chart. Davis has the edge due to his ability to contribute on special teams, but Abanikanda may have bolstered his chances slightly with a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Abanikanda will look to add to his case for a roster spot when the Jets continue preseason play next Saturday in Carolina.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Tumbling down depth chart
Abanikanda appears to have fallen down the Jets' backfield depth chart this offseason, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
The Jets used fourth- and fifth-round picks on Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, respectively, back in April, and both have reportedly stood out in offseason practices and taken reps with the first-team offense in the absence of lead back Breece Hall (lower body). Abanikanda drew some summer hype as a rookie in 2023 but ultimately carried the ball 22 times for just 70 yards (3.2 YPC). A fifth-round pick himself, Abanikanda could be on the roster bubble heading into the 2024 campaign.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Three carries in season finale
Abanikanda rushed three times for six yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 17-3 win over the Patriots.
Abanikanda didn't see much work while Breece Hall rumbled for 178 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 37 rushing attempts in snowy conditions. Hall's the clear lead back in New York heading into the 2024 season, but Abanikanda could be his top backup if the Jets don't add reinforcements in the backfield. Abanikanda saw limited action after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, finishing his rookie season with 22 carries for 70 yards, in addition to seven catches for 43 yards on 11 targets.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Active as pass catcher Thursday
Abanikanda rushed twice for three yards and brought in four of seven targets for 27 yards in the Jets' 37-20 loss to the Browns on Thursday night. He also returned one kickoff for 12 yards on which he lost a fumble.
The rookie saw nowhere the run he'd enjoyed during a nine-carry outing against the Commanders in Week 16, but he partly made up for it with a new career high in receptions and receiving yards. Abanikanda's fumble came on his one kickoff return, but it didn't lead to any Browns points. Abanikanda could be set for a busier day on the ground in the Jets' Week 18 finale against the Patriots on Jan. 7.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 5-10, 216 lbs |
| Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY |
| Age: 21 |
| School: Pittsburgh |
| Experience: 2 |