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Training camp time is quickly approaching in the NFL.
With the Dallas Cowboys shifting focus to camp in Southern California, Cowboys insider Joseph Hoyt recently gave us an early projection of what Dallas' 53-man roster could look like. The projection included unquestioned starters, some darkhorse roster candidates and a few players Cowboys fans might have forgotten were with the team.
Here's a breakdown of five Cowboys players you didn't know (or remember) were Cowboys:
Cornerback Ameer Speed
In the past, the Cowboys have found success with the spring football-to-NFL pipeline. Speed is looking to join a group of standouts that includes Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin.
The Cowboys signed Speed in June, along with wide receiver Denzel Mims and offensive lineman Chris Glaser. Speed was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He spent a brief stint with the Houston Texans last season, then played for the UFL's Houston Gamblers in the spring. He posted 11 total tackles and two pass breakups with the Gamblers.
Safety Julius Wood
Wood isn't a stranger to the Cowboys. He spent part of the 2025 season on Dallas' practice squad before signing a reserve/future contract with the team this offseason. Wood initially joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina in 2024. He was then claimed by the Tennessee Titans when he didn't make Dallas' 53-man roster.
He appeared in nine games for the Titans in 2024, posting two total tackles.
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Running back Israel Abanikanda
Abanikanda was on Dallas' practice squad to close out the 2025 season. He was signed to a reserve/future contract this offseason.
Abanikanda has bounced around with a few NFL teams after he was selected by the New York Jets as a fifth-rounder in 2023. He appeared in six games for the Jets as a rookie, posting 22 carries for 70 rushing yards and seven catches for 43 receiving yards. After he was waived by the Jets in 2024, Abanikanda was claimed by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent a brief stint in San Francisco before joining the Green Bay Packers' practice squad early in the 2025 season.
Offensive lineman Nick Leverett
The Cowboys signed Leverett to their practice squad in Nov. 2025. He didn't appear in any games, but he re-signed with Dallas on a reserve/future deal this offseason.
Leverett went undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft and began his career as an undrafted free agent with Tampa Bay, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. He also spent time over the last two seasons with New England and Arizona.
Offensive lineman Trevor Keegan
Dallas claimed Keegan off waivers ahead of the 2025 season. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 and was part of the team's Super Bowl LIX run. Keegan was placed on injured reserve in Oct. 2025.
He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022 and second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 when he played collegiately at Michigan.
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