LeQuint Allen's injury paves the way for Jaguars veteran to make the 53-man roster

Even though LeQuint Allen Jr. won't start for the Jacksonville Jaguars, he'll be a fixture on offense. His blocking skills and pass-blocking make him an invaluable asset on passing downs. However, the sophomore running back is currently dealing with an injury that forced him to miss the second half of training camp.

The Jags haven't offered an update on Allen. From an outside perspective, it's hard to tell whether he'll be ready for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, but his absence could ultimately pave the way for Ameer Abdullah to sneak onto the initial 53-man roster.

Ameer Abdullah has one edge over other Jaguars running backs

Liam Coen met with the local media after the loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the preseason. He says a running back will need to step up during LeQuint Allen's absence, bringing up pass protection as an area of emphasis.

"We're going to be out without LeQuint, as DRoc mentioned," Coen said (4:26). "He is going to be out for a little bit, so we've got to we need to see those guys both a little bit more with maybe the first group this week in practice to be able to get a little bit more evaluation to see who continues to give us the best chance to both run it, but also the big thing is protection right now."

Coen continued, "And who can continue to ascend in the protection pecking order because that's what we are missing right now with LeQuint being out in the current state that we're at. We need somebody to rise in that group, and as great as the running is, and all that is, we're really evaluating who can pass protect at a high level for us and be able to give us some meaningful reps."

A second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, Abdullah suited up for the Detroit Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders before landing with the Jags after the 2026 NFL Draft. When he arrived in Duval, he seemed like a long shot to make the team but now appears to have favorable odds of earning a roster spot.

Specifically, Abdullah stood out in the Panthers game, toting the rock six times for 45 yards and hauling in three receptions for 37 yards.

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Why the Jaguars could keep Ameer Abdullah on the 53-man roster

The Jaguars kept four running backs on their initial 53-man roster last year. They could do it again in 2026. Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez will be the top two options in the backfield, but LeQuint Allen Jr. is also a lock to make the team. Even if he misses a couple games, it doesn't look like his injury is serious enough to warrant a stay on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

So let's say that Tuten, Rodriguez, and Allen are locks to crack the team; that would leave a roster spot up for grabs. Early in the offseason, J'Mari Taylor was a realistic candidate to get it, but Ameer Abdullah has since moved ahead of him on the depth chart. DeeJay Dallas is also in the mix but is likely the odd man out.

Knowing that Abdullah can block and contribute on special teams, he should be the favorite to earn the No. 4 job.

Sure, you should always expect the unexpected, but the Jaguars gave Ameer Abdullah a chance to compete, and he seized it. That should result in a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

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