Underdog story of NY Jets rookie Israel Abanikanda highlights latest 'Hard Knocks' episode

The third installment of HBO's "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets" has been released.

Through the first two episodes, we've gotten an extensive look at the QB room between veteran Aaron Rodgers and former second overall pick Zach Wilson. Last week, we got our first extensive look on a defensive player with recently paid defensive tackle Quinnen Williams taking the spotlight.

The program also showed the dominance the Jets put on in the joint practices with the Carolina Panthers and ultimately in the preseason matchup where they posted a 27-0 shutout in Carolina on Aug. 12.

With the third episode now in the books, here are my three takeaways from this week's episode:

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The signing of Dalvin Cook

It didn't take long for the show to introduce the Jets' newest addition in the running back room in Cook.

At his first practice, fans were chanting "Dalvin Cook!" over and over despite him only being at Florham Park for one day due to flying back to his home state of Florida for the birth of his child.

"To have that veteran presence and can still play football at a high level like he (Cook) can will elevate everyone's game," said head coach Robert Saleh.

The following segment was a deep dive into fellow RB Breece Hall, who suffered a knee injury early last season after having a tremendous stretch to start his rookie season. In his first practice back, the 2022 second round pick didn't miss a beat as he showed great burst and explosiveness multiple times during the segment.

Garrett Wilson owns feisty join practice with Buccaneers

In the only Jets-Bucs joint practice, it was physical early and often. Multiple times both teams had to be separated from one another but the skirmishes continued on throughout the day.

Once the dust settled, Wilson showed why he could be Rodgers' favorite target this season. The 10th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft repeatedly burned Tampa Bay's defensive backs and made multiple defenders miss over and over. Wilson is looking to build off his Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season where he played in all 17 games and hauled in 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns.

"He's so f****** quick," Rodgers said. "I might miss him on the wrong shoulder cause he gets out of his break so fast. He's special and a good kid."

Randall Cobb was the focal point in the next block. Cobb was one of Rodgers' favorite targets in Green Bay for the past decade. Despite both players contemplating retirement in the offseason, Cobb, just like Rodgers, decided to play another year with his veteran QB but this time in the Meadowlands.

The story of Israel Abanikanda

Before the ball was even snapped, Saleh notably told star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams on the sideline that "everybody is" playing in the preseason finale against the New York Giants next Saturday night, including the first action in a Jets' uniform for Rodgers.

But the story of the night was RB Israel Abanikanda, who's been one of the bright spots for the Jets' offense this preseason.

The rookie from Brooklyn continued to perform at a high level in the Jets' Week 2 preseason game vs. Tampa Bay.

Unfortunately, with Abanikanda's mother and family watching in the stands, the 20-year-old left the game early after a knee-to-knee collision with a Buccaneers lineman and couldn't put any weight on his leg.

While Abanikanda's had a promising introduction to the NFL (16 carries, 88 rushing yards and a touchdown), he could be the odd man out in a RB room that features the aforementioned Hall, Cook and Michael Carter. The good news is that the 2023 fifth-round selection avoided a major injury as it's been reported that he'll likely miss a few weeks with a thigh injury.

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Jets on Hard Knocks with Israel Abanikanda, Garrett Wilson and Dalvin Cook