Even though the Jacksonville Jaguars let Travis Etienne walk in free agency, running back isn't really a weakness. Sure, you could argue that their backfield lacks experience, and rightly so. Bhayshul Tuten had a complementary role last year and is now expected to be No. 1. Similarly, free-agent acquisition Chris Rodriguez flashed during his three seasons with the Washington Commanders but never truly carried the load. That said, the Jags do have a couple of veteran options at the position.
Jacksonville re-signed DeeJay Dallas earlier this year after bringing him in late in 2025 to provide depth while Tuten recovered from a finger injury. The team also locked up Ameer Abdullah in the aftermath of the draft. Both of them offer valuable depth and experience. However, they could have an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, especially in light of J'Mari Taylor's strong outing throughout the offseason program.
The Jaguars have a logjam at running back ahead of training camp
Bhayshlu Tuten is firmly entrenched as RB1 and will tentatively get a big workload despite the fact that he'll operate in a committee. Although Chris Rodriguez missed the offseason program after undergoing foot surgery, he will also have a prominent role on offense. Similarly, LeQuint Allen Jr. could see an uptick in playing time after thriving in third-down situations last year.
All three are pretty much locks to make the team. That probably leaves one spot up for grabs, unless Jacksonville carries five running backs next season, which is highly unlikely. Heck, keeping just three shouldn't be ruled out.
Following a strong offseason, J'Mari Taylor has positioned himself to make a push for a roster spot. Back in training camp, he was the only running back who was able to keep up with Tuten in terms of explosive runs. If the former Virginia Cavalier continues to shine in training camp, he'll make it impossible for the Jags not to earmark a spot for him. That would potentially leave DeeJay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah on the outside looking in.
DeeJay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah could have trouble making the Jaguars roster
DeeJay Dallas appeared in three games, registering 21 yards on two carries. He also logged 30 snaps on special teams. The Jags liked him enough that they brought him back. Perhaps if J'Mari Taylor hadn't made a strong impression, he would have better odds of sticking around next season. The same is true for Ameer Abdullah.
A second-round pick in 2015, Abdullah has not had more than 500 yards rushing in a season since 2017, but he's carved out a niche as a pass-catcher and a contributor on special teams throughout his career.
Given that LeQuint Allen Jr. can also play special teams, Abdullah and Dallas may have to bring more to the table. They'll either have to stand out as receivers out of the backfield or showcase their running skills. The issue is that both of them may have already reached their respective ceilings, while Taylor has untapped potential. That could make ulitmately make them victims of the numbers game.
The Jaguars will give DeeJay Dallas and Ameer Abdullah a legitimate chance to compete in training camp, but the truth is that they're facing an uphill battle to make the roster.
