Israel Abanikanda Scores First NFL Touchdown
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PITTSBURGH -- The Hall of Fame Game, the first preseason game of the year, marks the beginning of the NFL season and former Pitt Panthers running back Israel Abanikanda did his part to ring in 2023.
Abanikanda scored the first touchdown of his NFL career and the first of the 2023 NFL season on a 10-yard rush in the second quarter. His scoring run put the New York Jets, who drafted the former Pitt star in the fifth round of this spring's draft, up 12-0 early in an eventual loss to the Browns.
Abanikanda was the only tailback to take a carry for the Jets through the first two and a half quarters of the game. He eneded his day as New York's leading rusher with nine attempts for 27 yards and the one score, which also represented his longest run of the day at 10 yards.
With starter Breece Hall on the Physically Unable to Perform list, Abanikanda has a chance to earn significant snaps early in his career.
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