The preseason gives players on the roster bubble the chance to make an impression. Linebacker Yasir Abdullah definitely took advantage of it when the Jacksonville Jaguars played the New Orleans Saints in the opener.
Abdullah made a key stop on special teams. He later forced the football out of quarterback Spencer Rattler. Defensive end B.J. Green II recovered it, and the Jags scored not long after to draw within 6-7 of New Orleans.
While Abdullah will need to keep showing out, he should feel good about his chances of making the 53-man roster in the aftermath of the preseason.
Yasir Abdullah is fighting for a roster spot with the Jaguars
A fifth-round pick by the Jaguars in 2023, Yasir Abdullah was a prolific pass rusher at the college level, but that ability to get after the quarterback didn't translate into the NFL. Nevertheless, he became a dependable backup and a key contributor on special teams for the Jaguars.
Abdullah is entering his fourth season in Duval and seemed to be on the outside looking in due to the presence of sophomore Jalen McLeod and the arrival of rookie Parker Hughes. However, he's quietly done enough to make you think that he can stick around. His forced fumble against the Saints certainly improved his chances. It also helped that head coach Liam Coen heaped praise on him in the aftermath.
"Yeah, he did some good things," Coen told reporters (2:51 mark). "He did some nice things on special teams, had the sack, played with good energy, played physical. I was happy for him."
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Why Yasir Abdullah could make the Jaguars roster
Even after letting Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, the Jaguars are stacked at quarterback. One starting spot is earmarked for Foyesade Oluokun. Branson Combs and Ventrell Miller are competing for the other next to him. Dennis Gardeck is also a lock to make the team, potentially leaving one or two jobs up for grabs.
Jack Kiser was trending toward being the backup behind Oluokun but will miss a good chunk of training camp after suffering a knee injury. For the sake of argument, let's say he makes the team. Jalen McLeod, Yasir Abdullah, and Parker Hughes will be battling for one spot.
Of the three, Abdullah has the best shot at making the team. Not only because he stood out in the preseason, but also because McLeod is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and Hughes hasn't done much of note.
Abdullah ended up logging 15 defensive snaps against the Saints. He also made the start at one of the three linebacker spots. Neither Hughes nor McLeod played. However, free-agent acquisitions Amari Burney and Jahlani Tavis registered 30 and 53 defensive snaps, respectively.
Of course, there's a chance Yasir Abdullah could be left out of the roster, but the more plays he keeps making, the harder it will be for the Jaguars to give him the boot come cutdown day.
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