The Cowboys are already making changes after a flat start to the season, and the running back room is where Dallas turned first.
This week, the team signed Tyler Goodson off the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, a move that puts him straight onto the 53-man roster. To clear space, Dallas moved on from veteran running back Israel Abanikanda, who had been added from the practice squad before Week One.
There’s still a chance Abanikanda circles back. With Dallas currently without a running back on the roster, the belief is that he could return to the practice squad after turning heads in training camp and the preseason. He had done enough in the buildup to the season to beat out 2025 draft picks Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah for a spot.
Goodson now arrives with a new jersey number, too. NFL Jersey Numbers on X reported that he’ll wear No. 32 for the Cowboys, a number last worn by Julius Wood. Wood was released during final roster cuts and later signed with the Miami Dolphins.
The new Dallas back has some production behind him. Goodson has played in 33 NFL games with one start, putting up 264 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground while adding 19 receptions for 103 yards and another score.
His 4.9 yards per carry is the kind of burst Dallas is hoping to tap into, especially as a complement to starter Javonte Williams, who is the team’s clear bell-cow back.
Goodson is set to share backup work with Emari Demercado, whom the Cowboys claimed off waivers after final roster cuts. That leaves one obvious question: who ends up handling more of the RB2 snaps?
Dallas will get the first answer on Sunday, September 20, when it hosts the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium in the home opener.
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