Jets' UDFA can take advantage of preseason opportunity thanks to Isaiah Davis injury

It's fair to say the New York Jets don't have too many question marks at the running back position in terms of who is projected to make the final 53-man roster ahead of the 2026 season.

Breece Hall just signed his new extension this offseason and is expected to be the Jets' lead back heading into the season. With a new contract in tow, expect New York to get their money's worth and ride Hall like a bell cow.

Behind him are third-year running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, both of whom have served fairly comfortably as the Jets' change-of-pace backs for the last few seasons. Allen is returning from a season-ending knee injury suffered early in the 2025 season, while Davis has missed a large portion of training camp with his own knee injury.

The fourth spot on the depth chart seems reserved for kick-returning phenom Kene Nwangwu, closing the door on any other running backs the Jets currently employ, but Davis' injury may provide a prime opportunity for an undrafted free agent looking to carve out a role for himself.

Isaiah Davis injury opens door for New York Jets' UDFA RB Chip Trayanum

Chip Trayanum, a UDFA out of Toledo, has been an intriguing player to watch throughout the offseason in New York. He's coming off a 1,000-yard, 12-touchdown season with the Rockets and was a four-star recruit out of high school.

There hasn't been much chatter surrounding him in training camp, but with Davis sidelined for the foreseeable future, he figures to get plenty of shine throughout the preseason.

When Jets head coach Aaron Glenn revealed Davis' injury to the public, he said the 24-year-old running back was likely to miss the remainder of training camp and the preseason, meaning he certainly won't suit up for Friday evening's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"He’ll be out maybe a couple of weeks, but he’ll be back. I’m confident that he’ll be just fine going into the regular season."

Glenn has made it clear he plans on playing his starters throughout the preseason, meaning we're likely to see some reps from Hall and even Allen throughout New York's three preseason games. But once the second half rolls around, expect Trayanum to be leading the Jets' backfield.

It will be his best chance to prove he deserves a spot on the regular season roster, and if he plays well enough, he could even supplant a player like Davis or Nwangwu on the depth chart.

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