Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Three carries in season finale
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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
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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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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Questionable to face Cleveland
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Abanikanda (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Browns.
The rookie running back was limited in practice all week. He's carried the ball 16 times over the last three weeks, generating 50 yards and no touchdowns while catching two passes for 11 scoreless yards in that span. If Abanikanda is forced to sit out Thursday, Dalvin Cook would move back into the No. 2 role out of the backfield behind Breece Hall.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Limited in walkthrough
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Abanikanda (ankle) was a limited participant at the Jets' walkthrough practice Tuesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Abanikanda's availability for Thursday's game at Cleveland looks to be in danger because of a knee injury. If he can't practice in full Wednesday, he'll likely carry an injury designation into Thursday.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Dealing with ankle issue
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Abanikanda is listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate due to an ankle injury, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Abanikanda has usurped Dalvin Cook as the Jets' No. 2 running back the past two games, combining for 38 offensive snaps to the latter's 15. As a result, Abanikanda has 13 carries for 51 yards (3.9 YPC) and two catches (on two targets) for 11 yards during that stretch, while Cook's ledger reads two touches for 10 total yards. With a health concern now in tow, Abanikanda's status will need to be monitored ahead of Thursday's game in Cleveland to get a sense of his chances to continue to serve as the primary backup to Breece Hall.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Career-high nine carries in Week 16
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Abanikanda (ankle) rushed nine times for 43 yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 30-28 win over the Commanders.
Abanikanda came into the game with eight career carries, but he exceeded that total against Washington, suggesting that the ankle injury that limited the rookie's practice participation during the week isn't hindering his availability. Dalvin Cook finished without a carry or target, so Abanikanda seems to have supplanted Cook as the top backup to Breece Hall heading into Thursday's road game in Cleveland.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Suiting up Sunday
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Abanikanda (ankle) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Abanikanda was held to limited participation in practice throughout the week, but it now seems as if he'll be able to play through his ankle issue in Week 16. The rookie is expected to serve as the Jets' No. 3 running back behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook on Sunday.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Questionable after limited practice
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Abanikanda (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Abanikanda was a limited participant in all three of the Jets' practices during the week. The 2023 fifth-round draft pick got a career-high six touches in New York's previous game, and Abanikanda could continue to work ahead of Dalvin Cook as the top alternative to starter Breece Hall if the rookie's healthy enough to suit up Sunday.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Pops up on injury report
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Abanikanda was listed as limited participant Wednesday on the Jets' estimated injury report due to an ankle issue, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Abanikanda totaled a season-high six touches in Sunday's 30-0 loss to the Dolphins, but he also appears to have sustained an ankle injury at some point along the way. With the Jets out of playoff contention, the rookie running back could see extra work during the final three weeks of the season, as long as he can prove healthy enough to suit up. He'll work to ramp up his activity level in practice Thursday in anticipation of playing Sunday against the Commanders.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Gets six touches in Week 15
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Abanikanda rushed four times for eight yards and caught both of his targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 30-0 loss to the Dolphins.
Breece Hall led New York's backfield with seven touches, but Abanikanda was right behind him while Dalvin Cook got only two touches. Had the game stayed competitive longer, Hall would likely have finished with a larger share of the workload, but with the 5-9 Jets officially eliminated from playoff contention, it wouldn't be surprising to see Abanikanda supplant Cook as the primary backup to Hall down the stretch. Cook's finishing up a one-year deal, while Abanikanda could be in the team's plans for years to come after being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Three carries in Week 14 win
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Abanikanda rushed three times for minus-1 yard and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 30-6 win over the Texans.
Abanikanda got some second-half opportunities in the blowout win. The 2023 fifth-round draft pick out of Pitt has four carries for 10 yards and one catch on two targets for five yards while having appeared in two games so far.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Questionable for Sunday
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Abanikanda (illness) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
The rookie running back out of Pittsburgh seems to be trending in the right direction to play Sunday, as he was able to log a limited practice session Friday after recording consecutive DNPs to begin the Jets' week of practice. Abanikanda's injury status will be something to look out for, as Dalvin Cook (shoulder) is also listed as questionable for Week 13's contest.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Two touches in NFL debut
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Abanikanda made his NFL debut in Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Bills, rushing once for 11 yards and adding one catch for five yards on two targets. He also returned one kickoff for 19 yards.
Abanikanda is third on the running back depth chart behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, but with the game out of hand late, the 2023 fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh got the opportunity to get his feet wet. While Abanikanda's breakaway speed could help him become a big-play threat as his career develops, his lack of touches coupled with the ineffective play of the Jets' injury-riddled offensive line limits his short-term appeal.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Won't debut Monday
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Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Bills.
Abanikanda was able to clear the Jets' injury report Thursday after dealing with a thigh contusion but will not play in the season opener. He's buried on the depth chart behind Dalvin Cook, Breece Hall and Michael Carter and will have to wait until at least Week 2 against the Cowboys to make his debut.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Returning to practice
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Abanikanda (thigh) is slated to practice Tuesday, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Coach Robert Saleh noted his surprise at how quickly Abanikanda was able to bounce back from a thigh contusion. Now that the 2023 fifth-rounder is back on the field, he'll gear up for Week 1 action, at which time he's slated to work in a depth role behind Breece Hall (knee), Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Michael Carter.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Suffers thigh injury Saturday
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Abanikanda won't return to Saturday's preseason contest against the Buccaneers due to a thigh injury.
Abanikanda appeared to suffer a knee-to-knee injury with one of his offensive linemen, but the Jets confirmed its nature not long after he was helped off the field and carted to the locker room. Considering he couldn't put any weight on his right leg, the rookie fifth-round pick seems slated for an absence of some type. New York held Breece Hall (knee), newcomer Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and Michael Carter out Saturday, which leaves Zonovan Knight and Travis Dye as the team's only healthy and available running backs.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Productive in second preseason game
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Abanikanda rushed 12 times for 56 yards and caught all three of his targets for 31 yards in Saturday's 27-0 preseason win over the Panthers.
Abanikanda came in on the Jets' third possession after Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight split the first two. Abanikanda, a rookie fifth-round pick, is gaining on Knight for the third-string spot, as Abanikanda has impressed in each of the Jets' first two preseason games; he scored a 10-yard touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game the previous week. Abanikanda will have two more preseason games to make his case for surpassing Knight, starting with an Aug. 19 home game against the Buccaneers.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Brought along slowly in camp
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Abanikanda hasn't pushed Michael Carter or Zonovan Knight for reps early on during training camp, as the Jets coaching staff is looking for a greater sense of urgency from the rookie fifth-round pick, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
According to head coach Robert Saleh, Breece Hall needed a similar ramp-up period as a rookie last season to learn how to run through contact in NFL practices. With Hall recovering from a torn ACL, Abanikanda should get plenty of opportunities in camp, and the rookie took a step in the right direction with a 50-yard touchdown run in Tuesday's session.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Taken by Jets in fifth round
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The Jets selected Abanikanda in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 143rd overall.
Abanikanda (5-foot-10, 216 pounds) is one of the most talented runners in the draft both in the sense of skill and tools, so this is a great pick for the Jets. It's one of the worst landing spots for Abanikanda in terms of playing time opportunities, however, because while former Pittsburgh star projects as an eventual NFL starter he is definitely not on Breece Hall's level as a prospect. Still, Abanikanda has sub-4.5 speed and unique explosiveness on a workhorse-viable frame, and he could pose an immediate threat to Michael Carter as the team's RB2. More likely, though, Abanikanda will start out as the Jets' RB3, especially since he won't turn 21 until October.
