Ameer Abdullah may have looked like a player nearing the end of the line, but Friday night offered a reminder that he still has juice. And for the Jacksonville Jaguars, that could open the door to a larger role than expected.
Jacksonville dropped its second preseason game of the year 34-17 to the Carolina Panthers, but Abdullah was one of the few bright spots. The former Nebraska running back and return specialist showed the kind of quickness and slipperiness that once made him such a problem in college.
This time, though, he did it strictly as a runner. He didn’t get any work as a returner.
Abdullah finished with 6 carries for 45 yards, which led all rushers in the game. He also added 3 catches for 37 yards. But the play everyone will remember came early in the second quarter, when Jacksonville was down 7-3 and backed up at its own 2-yard line.
On a first-and-18 snap, the Jaguars gave Abdullah a draw that initially looked doomed. He seemed boxed in near the line of scrimmage.
Then he planted, changed direction in a flash and left the defender who had him lined up grasping at air. From there, he hit another gear and ripped off a 23-yard gain.
That’s not the kind of burst most people expect from a 33-year-old back heading into his 12th NFL season. But Abdullah made it look natural, and it was the sort of run that brought back memories of his Nebraska days.
The bigger question now is whether this was just a nice preseason flash or a sign that Jacksonville may have found a more useful piece than it first imagined. Even if Abdullah’s job stays limited to occasional carries and return work, simply still being able to produce this far into a career marked by plenty of injuries is noteworthy. Add in the veteran presence he brings to a roster built mostly around younger stars, and the case for keeping him involved gets stronger.
From 2015 to 2025, Abdullah appeared in 154 games and totaled 508 carries for 2,054 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also had 219 receptions for 1,567 yards and 11 TDs, along with 10 punt returns for 91 yards and 170 kick returns for 4,346 yards.
For the Jaguars in 2026, Abdullah looks like the kind of experienced, versatile player worth leaning on. Friday night was a small sample, but it was enough to show he still has something left.
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