Israel Abanikanda: Back on Cowboys' practice squad
Rotowire
The Cowboys signed Abanikanda to the practice squad Thursday.
Abanikanda has been on and off the Cowboys' practice squad of late. He was signed to the active roster ahead of the 28-20 loss to the Giants in Week 1, though he didn't make an appearance before being waived Tuesday. There's a chance Abanikanda could suit up for the Cowboys again this season, but he's not expected to be much of a contributor.
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Israel Abanikanda: Cut loose by Dallas
Rotowire
Abanikanda was waived by the Cowboys on Tuesday.
Abanikanda was signed from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, but he did not appear in Sunday night's 28-20 loss to the Giants. The running back will now be placed on waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, there's a strong chance he returns to the practice squad with Dallas. In a corresponding move, running back Tyler Goodson was signed to the Cowboys' active roster Tuesday after opening the 2026 season as a member of the Falcons' practice squad.
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Cowboys' Israel Abanikanda: Signs with active roster
Rotowire
The Cowboys signed Abanikanda from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Abanikanda joined up with the Cowboys' practice squad after being waived by the team Aug. 30. The running back will now get a shot at a depth role on the active roster due to the placement of Malik Davis (hip) on IR. Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado will likely see most of the offensive action, but Abanikanda could acquire a few carries alongside a moderate special teams workload.
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Israel Abanikanda: Remaining with Dallas
Rotowire
Abanikanda signed a practice-squad contract with the Cowboys on Tuesday.
Abanikanda was with Dallas during training camp and played in all three of the team's preseason games, rushing 22 times for 91 yards while catching three of four targets for 16 yards. He was cut Sunday but cleared waivers and will stay with the Cowboys as part of the practice squad. Abanikanda hasn't logged a regular-season NFL snap since 2023, when he appeared in six contests for the Jets and rushed 22 times for 70 yards.
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Israel Abanikanda: Waived by Dallas
Rotowire
Abanikanda was waived by the Cowboys on Sunday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Abanikanda was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Jets. He appeared in six regular-season games for New York as a rookie, accumulating 70 yards off 22 carries while catching seven passes for 43 yards. The 23-year-old most recently signed with the Cowboys on a reserve/future deal in January, and while Dallas waived him Sunday, there's still a chance he could be brought back as a member of the practice squad.
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Cowboys' Israel Abanikanda: Inks reserve/future deal with DAL
Rotowire
Dallas signed Abanikanda to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Abanikanda signed with the Cowboys' practice squad in November after he spent training camp and the preseason with Green Bay. A fifth-round pick by the Jets in 2023, Abanikanda hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since that rookie season.
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Israel Abanikanda: Signs with Dallas
Rotowire
The Cowboys signed Abanikanda to the practice squad Sunday.
Abanikanda was cut from the Packers' practice squad Sept. 8 and was a free agent throughout the 2025 season before Sunday's signing. The signing likely is due to Phil Mafah (shoulder) and Miles Sanders (knee) being on injured reserve, and fifth-round rookie Jaydon Blue's (coach's decision) consistent role as a healthy scratch.
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Israel Abanikanda: Cut from Packers' practice squad
Rotowire
Green Bay cut Abanikanda from the practice squad Monday.
The move makes room on the practice squad for Pierre Strong. Abanikanda stuck around with Green Bay on the practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but the 2023 fifth-rounder will now be on the lookout for a team in need of backfield depth.
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Israel Abanikanda: Hanging around Green Bay
Rotowire
Abanikanda was signed to the Packers' practice squad Wednesday.
Abanikanda went unclaimed on waivers after being let go by the team Tuesday, and he will now stick around Green Bay as a member of the team's practice squad. The running back compiled 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries, while also adding two catches for 13 yards and 267 yards on 10 kickoff returns over three preseason contests with the Packers. Abanikanda could earn an elevation to the active roster for support at running back or as a return specialist in 2025.
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Packers' Israel Abanikanda: Back from hamstring injury
Rotowire
Abanikanda (hamstring) returned to practice Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.
Abanikanda's back after missing practice Tuesday and Wednesday. He's one of seven running backs currently with the team, but Abanikanda's unlikely to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, though a practice-squad spot is a more realistic possibility.
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49ers' Israel Abanikanda: Healthy scratch for Week 17
Rotowire
Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Lions, Lindsey Pallares of the 49ers' official site reports.
Abanikanda will observe Monday night's game in street clothes due to the return of rookie Isaac Guerendo, who will presumably lead the 49ers' backfield while Patrick Taylor serves as the backup. Abanikanda's next and last chance to play this season will be against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Israel Abanikanda: Cut by Jets
Rotowire
Abanikanda was waived by the Jets on Monday.
Abanikanda, a 2023 fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh, had yet to appear in a game this season after falling down the team's depth chart. The 22-year-old recorded 22 carries for 70 yards over 75 offensive snaps in six regular-season games with the Jets in 2023. If he clears waivers, Abanikanda could land on the Jets' practice squad.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Won't play Monday
Rotowire
Abanikanda (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the 49ers.
The Jets will roll with running backs Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis for the regular-season opener. Abanikanda will have to wait to make his first appearance of the 2024 season until Week 2 against Tennessee.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Makes case for roster spot
Rotowire
Abanikanda rushed the ball nine times for 83 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 10-6 preseason win over the Giants. He added one reception on one target for six yards.
Abanikanda served as the starting running back due to Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis all sitting out. That Abanikanda suited up indicates his spot on the running back depth chart, though he did make the play of the game when he ran through several attempted tackles for a 45-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. He'll enter cutdown day on the roster bubble, but even if he doesn't stick with the Jets, he should be able to find opportunity elsewhere around the league.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Active as pass catcher Thursday
Rotowire
Abanikanda rushed twice for three yards and brought in four of seven targets for 27 yards in the Jets' 37-20 loss to the Browns on Thursday night. He also returned one kickoff for 12 yards on which he lost a fumble.
The rookie saw nowhere the run he'd enjoyed during a nine-carry outing against the Commanders in Week 16, but he partly made up for it with a new career high in receptions and receiving yards. Abanikanda's fumble came on his one kickoff return, but it didn't lead to any Browns points. Abanikanda could be set for a busier day on the ground in the Jets' Week 18 finale against the Patriots on Jan. 7.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Questionable to face Cleveland
Rotowire
Abanikanda (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Browns.
The rookie running back was limited in practice all week. He's carried the ball 16 times over the last three weeks, generating 50 yards and no touchdowns while catching two passes for 11 scoreless yards in that span. If Abanikanda is forced to sit out Thursday, Dalvin Cook would move back into the No. 2 role out of the backfield behind Breece Hall.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Limited in walkthrough
Rotowire
Abanikanda (ankle) was a limited participant at the Jets' walkthrough practice Tuesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Abanikanda's availability for Thursday's game at Cleveland looks to be in danger because of a knee injury. If he can't practice in full Wednesday, he'll likely carry an injury designation into Thursday.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Dealing with ankle issue
Rotowire
Abanikanda is listed as a limited participant on Monday's practice estimate due to an ankle injury, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.
Abanikanda has usurped Dalvin Cook as the Jets' No. 2 running back the past two games, combining for 38 offensive snaps to the latter's 15. As a result, Abanikanda has 13 carries for 51 yards (3.9 YPC) and two catches (on two targets) for 11 yards during that stretch, while Cook's ledger reads two touches for 10 total yards. With a health concern now in tow, Abanikanda's status will need to be monitored ahead of Thursday's game in Cleveland to get a sense of his chances to continue to serve as the primary backup to Breece Hall.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Career-high nine carries in Week 16
Rotowire
Abanikanda (ankle) rushed nine times for 43 yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 30-28 win over the Commanders.
Abanikanda came into the game with eight career carries, but he exceeded that total against Washington, suggesting that the ankle injury that limited the rookie's practice participation during the week isn't hindering his availability. Dalvin Cook finished without a carry or target, so Abanikanda seems to have supplanted Cook as the top backup to Breece Hall heading into Thursday's road game in Cleveland.
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Jets' Israel Abanikanda: Suiting up Sunday
Rotowire
Abanikanda (ankle) is active ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Abanikanda was held to limited participation in practice throughout the week, but it now seems as if he'll be able to play through his ankle issue in Week 16. The rookie is expected to serve as the Jets' No. 3 running back behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook on Sunday.
