24-Year-Old Jets RB Retires Abruptly in the Middle of Training Camp

The New York Jets just lost a running back to a surprising retirement in the middle of training camp.

Gang Green announced on social media that they have “placed RB Zach Evans on the reserve/retired list.”

We’ve placed RB Zach Evans on the reserve/retired list.

— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 28, 2025

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

When an NFL team places a player on the reserve/retired list, it means that the player has “filed retirement papers but are under contract with the team.”

The Jets did not provide a reason for Evans’ retirement in their press release.

Looking at What’s Left in the RB Room for the Jets in 2025

“Evans (5-11, 211) signed a reserve/futures contract with the Green & White on Jan. 6. He played 10 games for the Rams last season and rushed 9 times for 19 yards before joining the Jets’ practice squad on Dec. 18. A sixth-round pick (No. 215 overall) of the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft, Evans played collegiately at TCU and Ole Miss,” Jets senior reporter Eric Allen wrote.

Evans’ sudden retirement leaves the team with five running backs on the 91-man roster in training camp.

That group includes Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis, Donovan Edwards, and Kene Nwangwu.

Evans Wasn’t Expected to Make the Jets 53-Man Roster

This news is certainly a surprise, but candidly, Evans wasn’t expected to make the final roster ahead of the 2025 season.

The green and white have three roster locks at the position. Hall, Allen, and Davis are all making this roster. The real question is, will the Jets keep a fourth tailback?

With how much the Jets are expected to lean on the ground game, you’d think they would keep extra depth just in case.

That opens the door for Edwards, a talented undrafted free agent out of Michigan, to make some noise in camp.

Jets beat reporter Nick Faria named Edwards the “biggest winner” of rookie minicamp earlier this offseason.

A Potential Eyebrow Raiser for the Jets When Roster Cuts Come Calling

Don’t be surprised if the Jets keep the entire five-man group in the backfield on the 53-man roster.

While Nwangwu is listed as a running back, he hasn’t played the position much at the NFL level. Across his four seasons in the pros, Nwangwu has totaled just 27 rushing attempts. His rushing attempts have exponentially decreased in each of those seasons.

Where the former Iowa State product truly cuts his teeth is on special teams.

While his rushing attempts have gone down in each of the last four years, his special teams contributions have only increased. Over the last four years, Nwangwu’s special teams snap percentage has exponentially increased each season.

Braelon Allen Is Creating Serious Buzz at Jets Camp

“One of the early standouts in camp is second-year RB Braelon Allen, who had another good day. He’s 240 pounds of granite, and he worked on his explosiveness in the offseason. The coaches love his unselfish attitude and willingness to play special teams,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini explained.

He will be at least the RB2 in this run-heavy offense. However, some believe there is a path for him to eventually overtake Hall as the lead dog in the backfield before the season reaches its conclusion.

“Allen remains the backup to Breece Hall in New York, but Hall’s production declined in a big way last year, with only a 68.7 PFF rushing grade. If Allen can improve his pass-catching abilities (50.3 PFF receiving grade) and blocking prowess (52.7 PFF pass-blocking grade), he could emerge as more of an every-down back for the Jets,” PFF’s Bradley Locker said.