The Green Bay Packers have officially given away Jaire Alexander’s old jersey number to the newest member of their running back room.
According to the Packers’ official roster on the team’s website, they have assigned the No. 23 jersey to new running back Israel Abanikanda, whom they claimed off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday to fill one of two vacancies on their roster.
The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman even snapped a video of Abanikanda in his new No. 23 jersey while he ran through individual drills during Sunday’s latest camp practice.
Abanikanda is the first player to wear the No. 23 since the Packers released Alexander — a two-time All-Pro cornerback and 2018 first-round pick — from their roster in June. Since then, Alexander has signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens for 2025.
Alexander is also wearing No. 23 for the Ravens.
Jaire Alexander’s Release Became Inevitable After 2024
When the Packers released Alexander on June 9 before their mandatory minicamp, it was a move that many had anticipated since the conclusion of their 2024 playoff run.
Alexander brought high-level play to the Packers defense when he was healthy enough to stay on the field, but he played just seven games in each of the past two seasons due to injuries. The Packers could abide his availability issues to a point, but his absences weighed heavier on them given his four-year, $84 million contract with the team.
By the time the 2025 offseason arrived, the Packers seemed to adopt a binary way of thinking about Alexander’s future: either he could accept a significant pay cut to stay with the team for the 2025 season, or they would trade him/cut him from the roster.
Ultimately, the Packers decided to release Alexander after failing to find a trade partner for him. Schneidman reported in late May that the team made a restructured contract offer to Alexander’s camp, but he rejected their offer, leading to his release weeks later.
How Good Are Israel Abanikanda’s Roster Chances?
With a new No. 23 on the roster, though, it is worth unpacking his roster chances.
Abanikanda is probably the second-most intriguing roster addition the Packers have made since the 2025 draft behind only the April signing of linebacker Isaiah Simmons. He stood out at Pitt, rushing for 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns during the 2022 season and building an athletic profile that had scouts projecting him as a potential Day 2 pick.
In the NFL, opportunities have been harder for Abanikanda to come by. He landed with the New York Jets as a fifth-round pick in 2023, but he struggled to earn a meaningful role behind starter Breece Hall and the rest of their rotation. He played just six games as a rookie, rushing 22 times for just 70 yards and catching seven passes for 43 yards.
Abanikanda might find a fresh start in Green Bay, but he will need to earn it properly and show that his playmaking ability from college is capable of translating to the NFL level. The Packers have a strong projected active-roster trio in Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd and Emanuel Wilson, but it is possible that Abanikanda could dethrone Wilson from his No. 3 role with a strong enough camp — though, it is likely Wilson’s job to lose.
If not, Abanikanda is likely vying for a practice-squad role for the 2025 season.
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