The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running back Ameer Abdullah earlier this week. While it's not a move that will have fans jumping up and down, bringing in a seasoned vet like Abdullah for training camp and preseason is never a bad thing.
Abdullah has spent over a decade in the league and the Jaguars mark the seventh different team he's spent time with. He's probably a longshot to make the Jags' final roster, so then why bring him in?
Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Tribune discussed that very question on Duval Rundown. His answer shouldn't surprise Jags fans.
"They probably needed a camp body," O'Halloran said on 1010 XL. "Maybe just having a veteran around these younger guys will help in training camp. I don't think it's an indictment on the three main guys [the Jaguars] have right now."
Ameer Abdullah gives Jaguars another "camp body" at RB this summer
"The three main guys" that O'Halloran is likely referring to are Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez, and LeQuint Allen Jr., who project as the top three running back options for this team in 2026 assuming other more drastic moves aren't made. The Jags also have DeeJay Dallas and J'Mari Taylor in the mix at running back as well
The Jaguars lost Travis Etienne in the offseason, as he signed with the Saints but opted not to spend any of their draft picks on running back. We'll see if the guys they're planning on rolling with will be able to rise up to the occasion this summer, and if not, maybe having a seasoned guy like Abdullah will end up paying off for Jacksonville.
Abdullah hasn't put up big numbers since early in his career, when he was with the Lions and rushed for over 500 yards in 2015 and 2017. He's been a journeyman depth piece ever since, but if he can impress this summer during camp and the preseason, perhaps he has a chance to beat someone else out on the depth chart. We'll have to see how it all plays out.
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