Updating the Jets' Training Camp Battle for RB2 Duties

Rookie Izzy Abanikanda scored TD in Hall of Fame Game, two returnees sat out

There's an ongoing competition for carries in the New York Jets' offensive backfield, and head coach Robert Saleh is closely watching it unfold.

Third-year pro Michael Carter, sophomore Zonovan "Bam" Knight and fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda are all in the mix to become starter Breece Hall's primary understudy.

"There's so much time left for them to kind of separate themselves and establish themselves as a go-to after Breece," said Saleh following the Hall of Fame Game in Canton.

Of the three main candidates, only Abanikanda received work on Thursday night in Canton.

"Izzy's trying to find his footing," said Saleh. 

Beginning to make his presence felt, the Brooklyn-born Abanikanda found the end zone in the Jets' 21-16 preseason setback to the Cleveland Browns. The Pitt product, who captured the 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference rushing title, showed good burst on a 10-yard touchdown run that lifted the Green & White to a 13-0 lead with 9:09 left in the second quarter.

"We know he has speed. He can catch the edge and run the corner and all that good stuff," said Saleh.

Outside of the red zone highlight, Abanikanda was bottled up for most of the night. He totaled 27 yards on nine rushes.

Saleh had a helpful suggestion for the rookie ball carrier during his postgame comments.

"Continue to look at what NFL runs look like, not every single one of them is gonna break loose and go for 80 [yards]. Most runs, you gotta stick your foot in the ground and go get dirty. So, he's learning that style," said Saleh. "It's just a matter of him learning what an NFL run looks like and that it's okay to get 4 and 5 [yard gains]."

Hitting the front-left end zone pylon, RB Israel Abanikanda scores a TD in the HOF Game / © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to individual running styles, Saleh said Abanikanda, Carter and Knight are all different.

"They all provide a skill set. They're all kind of different in that regard," proclaimed Saleh.

Going into Year 3, Carter has the most experience in the system. He has rushed for 1,041 yards and seven touchdowns on 261 carries over a 30-game sample, but saw his yards per carry average drop to 3.5 in 2022.

"One thing that we know he has is unbelievable contact balance," said Saleh after the team's first padded preseason practice. "I think he’s going to bounce back really well."

Then, there's Knight, who is more of a bigger, between-the-tackles type of running back. After cracking the active roster as an undrafted free agent last year, the 5-foot-11 Knight has flashed regularly during open training camp practices.

In the padded session this past Sunday (Practice No. 8), the North Carolina State product accounted for two explosive outside runs that gained 10+ yards apiece.

There's a little less than four weeks from roster cutdown day and there'll be three more gameday opportunities for the three men to state their case for the job behind Hall.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how that thing plays out," said Saleh.

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