The Dallas Cowboys are on cloud nine right now following consecutive wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, last year’s Super Bowl participants.

Unfortunately, they didn’t get any help from the Sunday games as it pertains to the NFC playoff picture, but with Philly reeling and Dallas looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the league, hope is very much alive. Up next is a huge matchup against the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

The Cowboys have returned to practice in preparation for the game. On top of welcoming Trevon Diggs back from injured reserve, they will be joined by a new face: running back Israel Abanikanda, whom they signed to the practice squad on Sunday.

Cowboys sign RB Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad

If that name rings a bell, the Cowboys have shown interest in Abanikanda since he entered the league in 2023. Not only that, but Abanikanda was many fans’ “pet cat” coming out of Pitt.

The Jets drafted him in the fifth round (No. 143 overall) that year. While Dallas did not draft until No. 169 overall in the fifth round, they certainly could have drafted Abanikana in the fourth round, where they selected defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko, who never appeared in a game and was cut before the start of his second season.

Abanikanda has not been able to find his footing in the league. He carried 22 times for 70 yards as a rookie, but has not appeared in a regular-season game since. He bounced around San Francisco and Green Bay this season, but wasn’t able to break through on either team.

Just 23 years old despite being in his third season, Abanikanda is everything that Brian Schottenheimer and Klayton Adams want in a running back. He runs with power and a low center of gravity that allows him to fall forward through contact. And while he didn’t make his bones at Pitt as a sprinter, his 4.45 40-yard dash is nothing to sneeze at. He can scurry.

With Jaydon Blue in the doghouse, there is a path for Abanikanda to carve out a role for himself. Malik Davis has exceeded expectations in the RB2 role, but it doesn’t hurt to get another body in the room in case of injury. If Abanikanda impresses at practice, he could find himself on the active roster sooner rather than later.

And if the Cowboys are content with riding Javonte Williams and Davis for the rest of the way, they should absolutely try to keep Abanikanda around for next year. Williams and Davis are free agents, and Blue seemingly has a lot of maturing to do to gain the trust of the coaching staff.

It took three years, but the Cowboys finally got Abanikanda.