Every Cowboys fan knows there’s going to be battle for the backup RB position in this year’s camp, but how many see Israel Abanikanda as one of the contenders? A late addition to last year’s practice squad, Abanikanda may be a more meaningful presence this summer than you think.
Background
Years in NFL: 3
Acquired by: Free agency (2025)
After a strong college career at Pitt, Abanikanda entered the NFL draft process with the label of an athletically gifted runner, mixing power and speed, but lacking in technique.
Considered a mid-round prospect in the 2023 draft class, Abanikanda was taken in the fifth round by the Jets. He survived final cuts but was stuck behind Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook on the depth chart. He only dressed for six games near the end of the season and received just 22 total carries in those limited appearances.
It would get worse in 2024. The Jets drafted two more RBs that year, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, and pushed Abanikanda further down the depth chart. They still kept him on the 53 for three months, though, before finally releasing him in early December. The 49ers claimed Abanikanda off waivers for the final few games of the regular season, but he never got any playing time.
San Francisco waived Abanikanda just before the start of its 2025 training camp, but he was claimed by Green Bay. He made it onto the Packers’ practice squad briefly, but was released in early September. He didn’t get a new home until the Cowboys signed him to their practice in late November. He remained there through the season and signed a new deal to stay with Dallas this offseason.
Contract Status
Years Left: 2
2026 Cap Hit: 1.08 million
While he has zero guaranteed money on the deal, Abanikanda doesn’t have to worry too much about finances working against him in the RB competition. None of Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, or Phil Mafah have financial entanglements in their contracts, so Dallas can make their decision purely based on performance.
2026 Projections
Role: Backup RB
Roster Chance: 20%
Many see the RB2 competition as a two-horse race between Blue and Davis, though some would add Mafah to the list. And there is still a thought that Javonte Williams’ backup isn’t even on the roster yet, with several veterans still hanging around in free agency. As we’ve seen in recent years with guys like Miles Sanders, Royce Freeman, and Ronald Jones, Dallas has valued experience on the RB depth chart. But Freeman and Jones never played a game for the Cowboys, and Sanders was struggling mightily before he got injured last year.
Let’s say Dallas keeps the competition as is. While Davis or Blue gives you a change-of-pace option, neither is built to handle a full workload if Williams were to miss significant time. Mafah may be, but he barely played last year and may need more development. There’s room for someone to break into this group and give the Cowboys something to think about, and there are reasons to think Abanikanda could do it.
While he’s been around the NFL for over three years now, Abanikanda is still just 23 years old. He’s just a couple of weeks older than Mafah and three months older than Blue, so he’s still an equally young prospect. His running style more closely resembles Williams’ than either Davis or Blue, perhaps making him a more ideal backup.
The key for Abanikanda is if he can show some refinement in his overall game. Despite his size, pass blocking was considered a weakness coming out of college. He’ll need to be better there, and show better ability to read blocks and allow his blocks to develop. We’ve seen how Williams, despite being powerful, displays shiftiness and adapts as the play unfolds in front of him. That will be a key for either Abanikanda or Mafah if they’re going to make it at this level.
Abanikanda is certainly not a favorite in this summer’s RB competition, but he’s worth keeping an eye on. He was considered to have starting potential in the class of 2023. He’s admittedly struggled to find a lasting home so far in the NFL, but still has youth and perhaps some untapped potential on his side. And it’s not like his competition has much to hang their hat on: Davis has been cut multiple times by the Cowboys, while Blue and Mafah barely showed anything as rookies. It’s a pretty open contest, with room for a guy like Abanikanda to impress in camp and stake a claim to a roster spot.
Check out our previous player profiles from this series:
C Cooper Beebe
G Tyler Booker
S Alijah Clark
EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku
TE Jake Ferguson
S Malik Hooker
EDGE James Houston
WR Jordan Hudson
LB Shemar James
G Trevor Keegan
S P.J. Locke
FB Hunter Luepke
RB Phil Mafah
QB Joe Milton III
WR Jonathan Mingo
CB Devin Moore
LB DeMarvion Overshown
TE DJ Rogers
LS Trent Sieg
WR Anthony Smith
OT Terence Steele
CB Reddy Steward
DT Jay Toia
EDGE Tyrus Wheat
EDGE Sam Williams
