FLORHAM PARK — Much has been made about the pending personnel changes expected to hit the New York Jets heading into Week 11.
One of those moves has already been made.
With New York’s release of Michael Carter, the Jets have signaled that they will be giving more playing time to fifth-round rookie Isreal Abanikanda. Abanikanda’s been a healthy scratch for the first nine games of the season for Gang Green but should be able to provide a spark for an offense desperately looking for one.
“It came down, one, just want to give Izzy (Abanikanda) an opportunity,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday. “He’s a good young back and we felt like it wouldn’t be fair for Michael to just sit there and rot on the bench and ask him to be a great teammate and all that stuff.”
Carter’s release came as a surprise to many in the Jets locker room on Tuesday. The former fourth-round pick was seen as a locker room leader despite an open frustration over the lack of a role he had. Despite those concerns, Carter was still able to lend a helping hand to Abanikanda and give him the tools necessary to perform at a high level.
“Since day 1, since I walked in here, MC showed nothing but love,” Abanikanda said. “I texted him after yesterday how much he was an influence on me and the running back room. He was a great guy. I learned a lot from him.”
Abanikanda becomes the second offensive rookie from the Jets 2023 draft class to have a role on gameday this season. The first was second-round rookie Joe Tippmann.
Both Tippmann and Abanikanda may have gone to different schools in college, but the two have grown a close bond with each other since being drafted by New York. That bond should help jumpstart an offense that has not scored an offensive touchdown in 11 straight quarters.
“That’s something that excites me,” Tippmann told AMNY. “I was able to spend a lot of time with Izzy and see what kind of player he is. For him to get that kind of…
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