Mafah will compete for a spot on the RB depth chart behind Javonte Williams this preseason in Dallas. His only playing time in 2025 came in Week 18 when he scored and collected 18 rush yards on five carries. If it's clear that he's the primary backup to Williams, then he'll deserve some late-round consideration. But until that's the case, Mafah can be left for the waiver wire.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after Saturday's preseason win over Seattle that Mafah (chest) will be "OK," Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Schottenheimer didn't provide much detail about Mafah's status but at least suggested that the running back isn't dealing with a significant injury. However, more should be known after Mafah undergoes treatment, which is expected to happen Sunday. Mafah logged four carries for nine yards and one catch for six yards prior to getting hurt in the preseason opener.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Exits early Saturday due to chest injury
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Mafah suffered a chest injury during Saturday's preseason game against Seattle and has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Mafah was ruled out in the second half after compiling nine yards on four carries along with six yards on one reception during his time in the game. He's jockeying for position in Dallas' RB pecking order with Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue, so it will be blow to his chances of earning the No. 2 or No. 3 role if he has to miss time beyond this weekend. Dallas' second preseason contest will be next Saturday versus Arizona.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Battling for RB2 spot in preseason
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Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Mafah and Jaydon Blue will both "get a ton of work" during the preseason and that they are "in a heated battle" for the top backup spot behind Javonte Williams, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Blue was listed ahead of Mafah on the team's initial depth chart, but both second-year pros will have a chance to make their respective cases for the backup role during the preseason. Williams is locked in atop the depth chart after rushing for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns in 16 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign, while both Blue and Mafah appear to have leapfrogged Malik Davis in the pecking order at running back.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Battling for backup role in Big D
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Mafah is in contention to land a depth role in Dallas' backfield behind Javonte Williams, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Mafah, Malik Davis and Jaydon Blue will battle for the top backup spot throughout training camp. The Cowboys drafted Mafah in the seventh round in 2025, two rounds after selecting Blue. Mafah made his NFL debut in Week 18 of the 2025 campaign against the Giants and scored a touchdown on one of his five carries.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Questionable for Sunday, still on IR
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Mafah (shoulder), who remains on injured reserve, is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The Cowboys ruled out top two RBs Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) for Week 18 on Friday, leaving Jaydon Blue as the only healthy option at the position on the active roster. If Mafah is activated from IR on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday's matchup, he'll at least be available to Dallas' backfield. A 2025 seventh-round pick, Mafah spent the entire regular season through Week 17 on injured reserve and thus is awaiting his first snaps as a pro.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Won't return Thursday
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Mafah (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's matchup against the Commanders, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The 2025 seventh-round pick from Clemson practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week but won't make his NFL debut in Thursday's divisional matchup. While Mafah remains on the injured reserve list, expect Javonte Williams and Malik Davis to handle Dallas' backfield duties.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Estimated as limited Monday
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Mafah (shoulder) was estimated as limited on Monday's practice report, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Mafah remains on injured reserve but had his 21-day practice window opened last week. The rookie has spent the first 16 weeks of the season on injured reserve after suffering the injury during the preseason.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Not yet ready to return
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Mafah (shoulder) has not been activated from injured reserve Saturday and is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Mafah had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday and has logged limited sessions since, but he won't come off IR in time for Sunday's contest against the Chargers. The rookie seventh-round pick's next opportunity to suit up will come in Week 17 against the Commanders on Christmas Day.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Questionable for Week 16
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Mafah (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Mafah opened the season on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. He was cleared to return to practice Wednesday, and the rookie seventh-rounder has a chance to make his NFL regular-season debut Sunday after a week of limited practices. However, if he does return, then Mafah would likely be limited to special teams while serving as the Cowboys' RB4 behind Javonte Williams, Malik Davis and fellow rookie Jaydon Blue (who has been a healthy scratch since Week 9).
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Practice window opens
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Mafah (shoulder) was designated to return from the injured reserve list Wednesday.
The rookie running back from Clemson was placed on IR in late August due to a shoulder issue, but it now appears he's nearing a return. Mafah has yet to make his NFL debut after posting 1,115 rushing yards, 103 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns during his final collegiate season. He must still be activated to the Cowboys' active roster in order to suit up for the Week 16 matchup against the Chargers.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Officially lands on IR
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The Cowboys placed Mafah (shoulder) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Mafah suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason finale and will now be sidelined for a minimum of the first four games of the regular season. He'll likely be buried on the depth chart when he returns, but the Cowboys' running back situation is quite uncertain entering the season.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Punches in TD in preseason finale
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Mafah carried the ball twice for 16 yards and a touchdown and failed to catch his only target in Friday's 31-13 preseason win over the Falcons.
The 2025 seventh-round pick didn't see a touch until the fourth quarter, only entering the game on offense after Jaydon Blue (ankle) hobbled off the field. Mafah took advantage of his opportunity however, getting two red-zone carries and punching in the second one from one yard out for Dallas' final TD of the night. Miles Sanders (shoulder) was also held out of the contest, so the Cowboys' depth chart behind presumed Week 1 starter Javonte Williams could be wide open, with Deuce Vaughn also in the mix along with Mafah for any open spots.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Healthy to begin pro career
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Mafah indicated Friday that he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder during his final college season at Clemson, Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The injury may have contributed to Mafah lasting until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he's looked good in padded practices since training camp began, using his physicality and vision to produce some chunk plays. He's in line to see a big workload during Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams due to starter Javonte Williams likely being held out and both Miles Sanders (knee) and 2025 fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue (heel) nursing injuries. A big performance from Mafah could create a very interesting battle in the Cowboys backfield between the two veterans and the two rookies ahead of Week 1.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Adds power to Dallas backfield
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The Cowboys selected Mafah in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 239th overall.
Dallas covered its bases with running back selections Day 3. In Jaydon Blue (fifth round), the Cowboys got one of the speediest backs in the class. Mafah brings the thump at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds. He split the backfield work with Will Shipley at Clemson in 2023 and took 179 carries for 965 yards and 13 scores. As the feature back in 2024, Mafah's workload swelled to 216 carries for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. Mafah is far from a speedster but can carve out a role as a short-yardage specialist. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders will likely see the bulk of the action this season, but a Mafah-Blue backfield could be interesting in the future.
