Jets' Preseason Position Battles: Three Viable Candidates for RB2 Role

Let the competition begin in Gang Green's running backs' room

Wm. Glasheen / The Post-Crescent

With starting running back Breece Hall returning from ACL surgery, the New York Jets' second-string ball carrier will serve an important role within the offense.

As for who will be the one to alleviate Hall's early-season workload, there are three running backs in the running for RB2 reps. 

All three — Michael Carter, Israel Abanikanda, Zonovan Knight — are currently on rookie contracts and each has a legitimate argument to win the job.

"There’s a lot of versatility, a lot of juice in that room. They’re big, they’re fast, they’re strong," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh after the team drafted Abanikanda into the mix. 

Carter, a 2021 fourth-round draft pick, appears to hold a small incumbency advantage in the race for backup duties. The 24-year-old native Floridian has made 21 starts over the past two seasons. He has rushed for 1,041 yards on 261 carries over the 30-game sample size.

"Michael has versatility coming out of the backfield," said Saleh.

The 5-foot-8 Carter led the Jets in rush attempts last fall, but experienced a dip in production from what was a promising rookie campaign. He averaged only 3.5 yards per carry in 2022, gaining first-down yardage on 14 off his 114 totes.

By using a fifth-round draft pick on Abanikanda this past April, the Jets may have been unveiling their intentions for the season ahead. The Pitt product instantly creates competition for carries while providing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with another weapon for what may be a run-heavy attack at times. 

With elite acceleration and 4.35-second 40-yard dash speed, the 5-foot-10 Abanikanda poses a home run threat every time he touches the ball. He won the Atlantic Coast Conference rushing title last year while accounting for 6.0 yards per tote. 

Knight, who projects as more of a between-the-tackles bruiser, worked his way onto the Jets' active roster as an undrafted rookie in 2022. Starting the season on the Practice Squad, the 5-foot-11 Knight was called up in Week 8 following Hall's season-ending injury.

The NC State product was a gameday inactive for three weeks until making his NFL debut with 103 scrimmage yards in a Week 12 win over the Chicago Bears. Like Carter, Knight managed only 3.5 yards per rush by season's end.

There's no shortage of capable ball carriers on the Jets' roster and certainly no shortage of competition for touches.

"There’s a lot of gas in that room," said Saleh. "It’s an exciting group to work with."

Jets' RB2 Candidates

Michael Carter

Number: 32
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 201
How/When Acquired: Drafted / 2021 Round 4 (No. 107 overall)
College: North Carolina
Year: Third
2022 Final Stats: 16 GP, 10 GS, 402 rush yards, 114 rushes, 3 TD, 3.5 ypc, 288 rec yards, 41 receptions

RB Michael Carter (32) / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Zonovan "Bam" Knight

Number: 27
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 209
How/When Acquired: UDFA / 2022
College: NC State
Year: Second
2022 Final Stats: 7 GP, 4 GS, 300 rush yards, 85 rushes, 1 TD, 3.5 ypc, 100 rec yards, 13 receptions

RB Bam Knight (27) / © Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Izzy Abanikanda

Number: 25
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 215
How/When Acquired: Drafted / 2023 Round 5 (No. 143 overall)
College: Pittsburgh 
Year: Rookie
2022 Final Stats: 11 GP, 1,431 rush yards, 239 rushes, 20 TD rushes, 6.0 ypc, 146 rec yards, 1 TD reception (at Pitt)

RB Izzy Abanikanda (25) :: Twitter / @nyjets

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