Cowboys Add Former Jets Running Back in Latest Roster Move

The Dallas Cowboys have made another adjustment to their running back group, bringing back a familiar player to the practice squad.

“The Cowboys have signed RB Israel Abanikanda to their practice squad,” The Athletic’s Jon Machota reported on X on September 17. Abanikanda had recently been waived by Dallas after the team added running back Tyler Goodson from the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.

The Cowboys officially confirmed the move shortly afterward.

Israel Abanikanda Returns to Dallas

The New York Jets selected Abanikanda in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 143rd overall pick. The former Pittsburgh standout has accumulated 70 rushing yards over his NFL career, doing so on 20 carries.

He has also caught seven passes for 43 yards, showing some versatility as a pass catcher despite receiving limited offensive opportunities.

The Jets moved on from Abanikanda in 2024, and he has since spent time with the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers before returning to Dallas.

Abanikanda also brings experience on special teams, including kick and return duties, which can be particularly valuable for players competing for spots toward the bottom of an NFL roster.

Before the 2023 draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein described Abanikanda as a zone-scheme runner with good size and explosive speed. Zierlein noted that while the running back could occasionally struggle with his reads and tempo, his agility allowed him to make sharp cuts and escape congestion.

His speed was another standout trait, giving him the ability to turn a well-blocked run into a significant gain when defenses failed to maintain proper gap discipline.

Zierlein also pointed out that Abanikanda would need to become more decisive and consistent as a downhill runner to handle the speed of NFL defenses. He projected him as someone capable of competing for a backup running back role while potentially working his way up the depth chart.

Now back with the Cowboys, Abanikanda will have another opportunity to prove he belongs on an NFL roster.

Dallas will hope he can make an impact either in the backfield or on special teams as he competes for a spot on the team.

As for his former team, the Jets are unlikely to face an Abanikanda revenge game this season unless both clubs make an extremely unlikely run all the way to the Super Bowl.