Packers Replace Israel Abanikanda on Practice Squad With Speedster
During training camp, the Green Bay Packers released running backs Israel Abanikanda and Amar Johnson, opting to keep Abanikanda on the practice squad over Johnson, a speedster from South Dakota State.
On Monday, the Packers released Abanikanda and replaced him with another speedster from South Dakota State, Pierre Strong.
Strong was a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2022. In 46 career games with the Patriots in 2022 and the Cleveland Browns in 2023 and 2024, Strong has carried 99 times for 499 yards (5.0 average) and two touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 193 yards. He rushed for a career-high 291 yards in 2023 and caught a career-high 14 passes in 2024.
The Browns released Strong last week with an injury settlement following a concussion.
“I think speed, really has that ability to take the ball and go, versatility — can catch it coming out of the backfield,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said in 2023. “And he gives you some good reps at special teams, as well.”
Strong has been a quality player on special teams. He had eight tackles and a forced fumble in 2023 and three tackles in 2024. He also has some kickoff-return experience with a 23.8-yard average on 24 career opportunities.
For his career, he’s played 607 snaps on special teams and 412 on offense.
Before the 2022 draft, he measured 5-foot-11 3/8 and 202 pounds and ran his 40 in a blistering 4.37 seconds.
“Helping the team out any way I can,” he said after being drafted. “Out of the backfield, special teams, any way I can help the team win a Super Bowl. Wherever New England needs me to play, that's what I'm going to do. That's the kind of person and player I am.”
The Patriots traded Strong to the Browns before the 2023 season.
“I’m versatile,” he said after the trade. “My speed, my hands at the backfield block and just being an all-around back. Like I said, speed. Just showing them – break away and get to the edges and just do anything they need me to do with the ball in my hands.”
Strong had a good preseason this year with 114 rushing yards (6.3 average), highlighted by a 54-yarder against the Eagles, and five catches.
At South Dakota State, Strong dominated the FCS ranks. In four seasons, he rushed for 4,527 yards (7.2 average) and 40 touchdowns while adding 62 receptions for 581 yards (9.4 average) and three more scores. As a senior, he rushed for 1,686 yards (7.0 average) and 18 touchdowns while adding a career-high 22 receptions. He led FCS in rushing and also threw four touchdown passes.
Despite rushing for almost 4,000 yards during his final two seasons of high school in Little Rock, Ark., Strong was largely ignored by recruiters. But not by South Dakota State.
Then-running backs coach John Johnson “was on me hard, but I was kind of blowing him off – I wasn’t texting him back,” Strong told the Argus Leader. “I’d heard of (South Dakota State) but I wasn’t really into it. It just sounded really cold. But he came for an in-home visit and got me up here for a campus visit. I met some of the players, got out in the community and researched it with my parents and we decided it was the right place for me.”
Strong became the first SDSU running back to be drafted since fullback Joe Thorne was picked by the Packers in 1962.
Strong played at South Dakota State alongside tight end Tucker Kraft.
“He’s a special student-athlete,” SDSU coach John Stiegelmeier said. “In terms of how he compares to the (Zach) Zenners and the (Josh) Raneks and the Kyle Minnetts and the whole slew of guys – each one was different. Pierre has a unique running style. He hops out of tackles, he’s real smooth, he gets to top speed quick. We’ll see where he ends up but I’m just glad he’s on our football team.”
Strong will wear No. 22, which was last worn by another speedster, rookie receiver Matthew Golden.
Lions HC Sends Warning Shot to Bears Ahead of Week 2, Dismisses Former Lions OC Ben Johnson as a Threat
Lions head coach Dan Campbell made his stance on facing his former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Bears in Week 2 very clear.
Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season will feature a matchup between Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions and Ben Johnson's Chicago Bears.
Campbell and Johnson were colleagues from 2022 to 2024, elevating the Lions into playoff contenders overnight. With Campbell as the head coach and Johnson as the offensive coordinator, they led the franchise to their best playoff run in decades, reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2023.
However, their time together came to an end in the 2025 offseason following the squad's NFC Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders. Johnson decided to take the next step in his coaching career, accepting the Bears' head coaching job.
Campbell talked about his team's upcoming matchup with the Bears on Monday afternoon, per reporter Eric Woodyard. With the two teams being division rivals, Campbell sees their situations as ones on even ground.
“I think we're on even playing ground really. It's the same thing. He knows what we're about. We know what he's about,” Campbell said.
What lies ahead for Dan Campbell, Lions
It's clear that Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson have moved on to their separate paths, enjoying the three years they spent together forming the Lions into a playoff contender.
However, Johnson's exit does present issues for Detroit. They are coming off a brutal 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the season opener. The offense was noticeably different as the Lions' attack did not have the elite potency it had in past seasons in Week 1.
There is plenty of time for the Lions to bounce back from those early struggles. However, they will need to do that as soon as possible with playoff contention at stake. They cannot afford to miss the postseason with the star players they have at their arsenal.
The Lions will prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Bears, being at home. The contest will take place on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. ET.
