For the third year in a row, veteran running back Ameer Abdullah will sign a new contract with the Raiders in March, the team announced today. Initially coming to Las Vegas as an unrestricted free agent in 2022, Abdullah returns for his third season with the Raiders.
After a prolific college career at Nebraska, Abdullah came into the league as a second-round draft pick by the Lions. He spent six years in the NFC North between Detroit and Minnesota before ending his seventh season with the Panthers. Since then, Abdullah has sported black and silver in Las Vegas.
Abdullah’s most productive seasons came with the Lions during his first three years, but he found a role as a receiving back and kick returner as his career has progressed. That has been reflected during his time with the Raiders. In two years with the team, Abdullah has taken a backseat to Josh Jacobs and Zamir White, only rushing for 109 yards in those two seasons combined.
As a receiving back, though, Abdullah racked up 44 catches for 342 yards and a touchdown over that same period. Abdullah also served as the team’s primary kick returner in 2022 before ceding that responsibility to DeAndre Carter in 2023.
With Jacobs assumed to be on the way out via free agency, the Raiders accomplish a minor feat here by solidifying trusted depth behind White for the 2024 season. Fellow backup rusher Brandon Bolden is also set for free agency, so White and Abdullah represent the only running backs on the roster for now. With free agency and the draft on the horizon, Las Vegas will have to seek some additions but will do so from a base of White and Abdullah.
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