Jaguars RB Ameer Abdullah makes a strong case for a spot on the roster

Last week J’Mari Taylor made his case for making the Jacksonville Jaguars roster as an undrafted free agent rookie with his performance against the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 78 yards, the most by a Jags running back in a preseason game in 11 years.

Ameer Abdullah has now thrown his performance in a 34-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 21 at EverBank Stadium on the table, strengthening his bid to make the team as a 12-year veteran.

The final running back spot on the roster could well come down to those two players, separated by nine years in age, a lifetime in terms of NFL experience but not much difference in their desire to be in uniform on opening day Sept. 13 against Cleveland, or in their work ethic.

That’s why the decision might be so difficult for the Jaguars‘ staff.

Until Joey Aguilar threw a 29-yard TD pass to Trebor Pena with 3:12 left in the game, Abdullah was the lone offensive bright spot for the Jaguars, rushing for 45 yards on six carries and catching three passes for 37 yards, all in the first half. Abdullah had one run of 23 yards that left Carolina defender Chau Smith-Wade searching for his ankles and he had pass receptions of 18 and 11 yards.

It could have been a better night. Abdullah dropped a pass from Nick Mullens in the end zone, and the Jags had to settle for the first of three Cam Little field goals (Little is now 20 of 21 for his career in preseason games).

However, Abdullah, who is with his fifth NFL team, believes the game was a continuation of a strong training camp as he tries to squeeze out another NFL season.

His next step is to get more reps with the first offense, especially with planned third-down back LeQuint Allen Jr., out for the rest of training camp with a soft tissue injury.

“I’ve been itching to get more with the ones,” he said. “I know early in camp me and J’Mari got a good look against our one defense, and I think that kind of prepared us a lot. If we can get gelled in and mesh with the guys who are the one O-line, get their protection calls and hear how they communicate, I think it’ll set us up for a good showing in the long run.”

The trouble is, there is no long run. Abdullah and Taylor (and seven-year veteran DeeJay Dallas) have only the two joint practices coming up against the Tampa Bay Bucs on Aug. 25-26, and the final preseason game Aug. 28 against the Bucs as their closing arguments.

Cutdown day looms after that as those three battle for the fourth spot behind Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez and Allen.

“I think game action is the only way you can truly prepare for the game of football,” said Abdullah, who played at Nebraska. “Of course practice gets your timing down, but really taking on blocks, really taking on tackles, feeling yourself go through a hole when guys are really trying to tackle you is the best way to prep for the game. So I’m just glad that I was out there and able to execute today.”

He still has fond memories of his best day on the EverBank Stadium field when the Cornhuskers beat Georgia 24-19 in the 2013 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Abdullah led all rushers with 122 yards that day, with one touchdown.

Abdullah has a family friend who lives in Jacksonville.

“Jacksonville has always been good to me,” he said. “Always been good to me, my family. I have a lot of roots here and I’m glad to be here.”

Jaguars coach Liam Coen sounds like he wants Abdullah to win a spot and make more Jacksonville memories.

“I thought he definitely showed up tonight,” Coen said. “It’s kind of what we’ve all been seeing in a lot of ways in practice. You talk about a pro’s pro and a guy that just does everything right.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars RB Ameer Abdullah makes a strong case for a spot on the roster