Braelon Allen is entering his third season with the New York Jets after being selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Three offseasons of hype have surrounded the physically imposing running back, and 2026 will likely mark a make-or-break season for his future in New York.

That begins right away in Week 1, where Allen could have a bigger role than he may have first expected.

Injuries open the door

The Jets’ running back room is banged up. Among the team’s four RBs, Braelon Allen and Kene Nwangwu are the only two who have stayed healthy throughout the summer.

Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis both dealt with groin issues throughout August. In positive news, the team’s first injury report listed both as full participants on Wednesday (although the team did not hold an actual practice, so these were estimations).

The Jets also worked out veteran RB Jerome Ford, which could suggest they are looking for insurance in case Davis isn’t fully up to speed yet.

With Hall and Davis potentially not being one hundred percent in Week 1, Allen has an opportunity to step up and define his offensive role early in the season.

Can Allen establish himself as the clear-cut RB2?

Right now, it’s hard to pinpoint a clear RB2 on the Jets’ depth chart.

While the Jets’ unofficial depth chart lists Allen over Davis, the two have completely different skill sets. Davis has proven to be more of a third-down back with stronger pass-catching and pass-blocking ability. He has also been efficient as a rusher, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt in 21 career games, although his sample size of carries is small (73).

Allen, on the other hand, is best suited for short-yardage situations. He has struggled with consistency and explosiveness in his career, averaging only 3.7 yards per attempt with a long of 20 yards on 110 carries. His weight gain to 250 pounds this offseason further suggests he is leaning into his bread and butter: power in short-yardage situations.

If Allen can get off on the right foot in Week 1, especially with Davis’ readiness unknown, he could be in a strong position to secure more carries and opportunities.

Throughout the preseason, the Wisconsin product looked solid despite a limited sample size. On seven carries, he rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a 31-yard touchdown run.

Those numbers are encouraging, but Allen has flashed before. The key to his make-or-break season is turning those flashes into consistent production to establish himself as a reliable RB2.

In fairness to Allen, there have been some obstacles working against him. During his rookie season, Allen dealt with an in-season change at offensive coordinator, going from Nathaniel Hackett to Todd Downing. Last year, he suffered a season-ending knee injury during the Jets’ Week 4 matchup.

Nevertheless, as he prepares for his third NFL season, Allen must prove to the Jets that he can be trusted as the RB2 moving forward. On Sunday, he will have the opportunity to make his presence felt, which would do wonders for his stock.