Former Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen made his NFL debut on Saturday in the New York Jets’ 2024 preseason opener against the Washington Commanders.
Allen’s brief appearance in the exhibition contest consisted of six carries for 54 yards (9 yards per carry). Several of those carries finished with the flattening of an opposing defender — a proper flashback to his dominant stretch at Wisconsin, especially his breakout 2021 campaign.
Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger currently on an NFL roster entering 2024 training camp
The words of Jets head coach Robert Saleh properly evaluate how Allen’s first start went:
“Braelon didn’t disappoint,” Saleh emphasized postgame. “When he got to the second level, it’s painful to just touch the human. He is a very heavy runner. And it was really cool to see him out in the open field.”
JetsTalk247 on X compiled all of Allen’s touches from the Jets’ 20-17 win over the Commanders. This debut tape can be submitted if his staying power in the NFL needed any supporting evidence:
Braelon Allen Every Play from #Jets vs #Commanders pic.twitter.com/NMcA2UwXj7
— JetsTalk24/7 (@JetsTalk247) August 10, 2024
Allen projects to enter the season as the Jets’ primary backup running back behind star Breece Hall. His early training camp and preseason performance is cementing that position and likely expanding his overall role within the offense.
The Badger great was a fourth-round pick by the Jets in the 2024 NFL draft after three highly productive college seasons that included 597 carries, 3,494 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns with the Badgers.
Here is our extended first look at Allen as he continues to prepare for his first NFL season: