The Jacksonville Jaguars chose to sit out free agency, focusing primarily on re-signing most of their own players. However, the Jags have made a few additions since then, with running back Ameer Abdullah being the most prominent one.
Abdullah signed with the Jags in the aftermath of the 2026 draft. He was a second-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and has previously spent time with the Detroit Lions, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Although Abdullah hasn't racked up more than 500 yards since 2017, he's a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield. On top of that, the veteran running back can contribute on special teams. Those two traits could help him earn a roster spot in most situations. However, he'll have his work cut out for him to stick around in Jacksonville next season.
Ameer Abdullah is on the fringe ahead of Jaguars OTAs
Ameer Abdullah is part of a crowded running back room. Bhayshul Tuten sits at the top of the depth chart, and Chris Rodriguez is projected to carry a big workload next season. LeQuint Allen Jr. is a superb blocker and a reliable pass-catcher, so he'll also get ample playing time.
DeeJay Dallas is also in the mix. He landed with the Jags late in 2025 and signed a one-year deal to return to Jacksonville early in 2026. On the other hand, J'Mari Taylor turned heads at Organized Team Activities and seems to have a favorable chance to make the roster. Where does that leave Abdullah?
The Jaguars will most likely carry four running backs next season. Heck, they may end up keeping three. If that's the case, Tuten, Rodriguez, and Allen would get the nod. But if the team wants to allocate another roster spot at running back, Taylor may be the favorite.
It's worth noting that Rodriguez underwent surgery early in the offseason. That's allowed other running backs to get extra reps. However, he'll tentatively return in training camp, so the depth chart will start to take shape.
Does Ameer Abdullah have a chance of making the Jaguars 53-man roster?
Probably not. You could even make the case that the Jaguars signed Ammer Abdullah as insurance during Chris Rodriguez's recovery, and there's a chance they'll give him the boot once Rodriguez is back.
At this point, Abdullah's best-case scenario will be RB4, but that looks like a long shot. Not only does he have to outperform DeeJay Dallas, who may have a slight edge by virtue of having signed with Jacksonville last year, but he'll also have to fend off J'Mari Taylor.
That could turn out to be a challenging task, as Taylor's showcased top-end athleticism and may have way more upside at this point of his career. Heck, Abdullah could be gone as soon as Rodriguez returns from injury.
Still, the Jaguars could keep Ameer Abdullah in training camp, but his best bet may be to land on the practice squad, as he faces stiff competition to make the initial 53-man roster.
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