Cowboys' Malik Davis: Done for 2026 after hip surgery
Rotowire
The Cowboys placed Davis (hip) on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Davis underwent surgery Saturday for a hip injury, and Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports that the procedure will sideline the 27-year-old running back for the entire 2026 season. With Davis on the shelf, the Cowboys bolstered their backfield depth by signing Israel Abanikanda from the practice squad to the active roster, with the latter serving as the RB3 behind Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Will undergo hip surgery
Rotowire
Davis is slated to have surgery on his injured hip Saturday and is expected to be placed on IR, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Davis hurt his hip during practice Friday, and the issue is severe enough to require surgery. It's not yet clear how much time the tailback will miss, but it's very possible that he'll be sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign. The injury is an awful break for Davis, who had been slated to serve as Dallas' No. 2 running back after working mostly on special teams (and spending considerable time on the practice squad) early in his career. Emari Demercado will likely now slide into that backup role behind Javonte Williams, and Dallas figures to make a move to add another ball carrier to the roster ahead of Sunday's Week 1 matchup versus the Giants.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: May miss 'some period of time'
Rotowire
Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan Dallas that Davis (hip) suffered a "pretty serious injury" at Friday's practice that "could take him out for some period of time."
Davis required a cart to leave the practice field Friday, was diagnosed with a hip injury and then promptly ruled out on the Cowboys' final Week 1 practice report. As long as Davis is out, Emari Demercado, Hunter Luepke and practice-squad member Israel Abanikanda will the options to fill out the backfield behind No. 1 RB Javonte Williams.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Injures hip Friday
Rotowire
Davis sustained a hip injury at Friday's practice, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Davis was carted off the practice field Friday. The severity of the issue isn't known, but Friday's injury report will give a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday at the Giants. Emari Demercado and practice-squad member Israel Abanikanda are the candidates for RB reps behind Javonte Williams if Davis is unable to play this weekend.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Suffers injury at practice
Rotowire
Davis (undisclosed) needed a cart to get off the practice field Friday, Clarence Hill Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.
On cut-down day, Davis was the clear winner of the No. 2 RB role in Dallas after the team cut both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. If Davis' current health concern impacts his availability for Sunday's game at the Giants, Emari Demercado or practice-squad member Israel Abanikanda would be the candidates for backfield work that doesn't go to starter Javonte Williams.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Could be poised to earn RB2 role
Rotowire
While acknowledging that backfield slotting behind Javonte Williams is still a question mark in advance of Friday's preseason finale against the Saints, Nick Eatman of the Cowboys' official site believes that Davis has done enough to remain the backup ahead of Week 1.
It's worth noting that this doesn't align with how Dallas' running backs are listed on the team's unofficial depth chart, and things could remain fluid leading up to and after roster cut-downs. However, it's a take shared by Todd Archer of ESPN, as well as Jon Machota of The Athletic, who predicts that Davis opens as the No. 2 back, while 2025 fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue -- a player with higher upside, per Machota -- is a candidate to take over the spot at some point during the season. Meanwhile, Phil Mafah is also in the mix but could be on the roster bubble. In any case, if Williams ends up missing any time, a committee approach could well be employed to fill the void, but in the short term at least, Davis appears to be trending toward being the next man up in such a scenario, with Blue also factoring in.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Solid in preseason start
Rotowire
Davis rushed five times for 29 yards and brought in his only target for an eight-yard touchdown in the Cowboys' 34-13 preseason win over the Cardinals on Saturday. He also committed a fumble but recovered and ran back one kickoff for 31 yards.
The fourth-year pro was the first Cowboys running back to log a touch and gained 25 of his rushing yards on the opening possession. Davis then capped off a short-field second possession following an interception with his eight-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Joe Milton. Davis' competition for the No. 2 role behind Javonte Williams -- Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah -- both had impressive moments as well Saturday, so the pecking order and roster status of the trio is likely to be decided during Friday's home preseason matchup against the Saints.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Appears to be in lead for RB2 job
Rotowire
At this stage, Davis appears to be the frontrunner for the Cowboys' No. 2 running back job, Tommy Yarrish of the team's official site reports.
Calf and eye issues resulted in Davis being placed on IR ahead of Week 18 action last season. However, the ensuing offseason afforded the 27-year-old time to recover, and the Florida product will now look to secure backfield slotting behind top option Javonte Williams, who recorded a career-high 252 carries during the 2025 regular season. While working behind Williams in that span, Davis recorded 52 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns, as well as two catches (on five targets) for 16 yards in 10 contests. Should Davis maintain his standing as Williams' top backup, he'd carry fantasy value as an insurance policy, but Yarrish points out that Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah could compete for the job ahead of the 2026 campaign, making this a situation to monitor in the coming months.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
Rotowire
If Javonte Williams (shoulder) is out in Week 18 at the Giants then Davis has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. Williams was injured in Week 17 at Washington, and Davis filled in with 20 carries for 103 yards. The Giants are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Williams scored 25 PPR points against New York in Week 2. Davis has top-15 upside in all formats if Williams can't play in this matchup.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Week 18 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Javonte Williams (shoulder) left the Week 17 game at Washington, and it would be a surprise if he played in Week 18 at the Giants. If Williams is out then Davis has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy running back in all leagues. Against the Commanders, Davis had 20 carries for 103 yards and no catches on two targets. The Giants are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and Davis could be a great fill-in running back in all formats if Williams is out.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Hits century mark Thursday
Rotowire
Davis carried the ball 20 times for 103 yards and failed to catch either of his two targets in the Cowboys' 30-23 win over the Commanders on Christmas Day.
Javonte Williams (shoulder) was knocked out of the game early, and with Dallas taking a 24-10 lead into the second half, Davis saw a hefty workload as the team worked to burn the clock. It was the first 100-yard game of the fourth-year back's career -- his previous high was 47 yards, set in Week 13 this season -- and the carry volume also doubled his prior high. There's no indication yet how serious Williams' shoulder injury is, but with nothing on the line in a Week 18 clash with the Giants except the chance at a .500 record, Davis could be in line for big volume again.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Limited carries again
Rotowire
Davis gained six rushing yards on three carries in Thursday's loss to the Lions.
For the fourth straight game, Davis saw either three or four totes while working as the No. 2 back for the Cowboys behind Javonte Williams. Thursday's production was by far his lowest during that stretch, however -- a disappointing showing after he broke free for a 43-yard TD in Week 13. As long as Williams remains healthy, Davis will remain little more than a dart throw for fantasy purposes.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Week 14 Waiver Priority List
Rotowire
Davis has established himself as the No. 2 running back in Dallas behind Javonte Williams, and Davis is worth stashing in all leagues for 1 percent of your remaining FAB. If Williams were to miss any time then Davis would be at least a flex option in all formats.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Joins Dallas' active roster
Rotowire
The Cowboys signed Davis to their active roster off the practice squad Saturday.
Davis logged a season-high 19 percent offensive snap share and turned in campaign-high marks with four carries for 20 yards last Sunday against Las Vegas. He reverted back to the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday, but Dallas has now decided to sign him to the active roster. Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News speculates that Davis will take on the No. 2 RB role behind Javonte Williams, which is how he had been deployed the past two weeks. Jaydon Blue thus seems marked for third in the RB pecking order.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Reverts to practice squad
Rotowire
Davis reverted to the Cowboys' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
The Florida product has operated as the Cowboys' No. 2 running back in each of the team's last two games, rushing five times for 23 yards while rookie Jaydon Blue has been a healthy scratch. It's likely that Davis will return to Dallas' active roster before the team's Week 12 matchup against the Eagles.
... See More... See Less
Malik Davis: Gets waived
Rotowire
Dallas waived Davis on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The Cowboys signed Davis to their active roster Monday ahead of their game versus the Cardinals, but now he's headed to waivers just one day later. He could be a candidate to join back up with Dallas' practice squad if he's not claimed by another team during the current waiver period.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Active Monday while Blue isn't
Rotowire
Davis is active but fellow RB Jaydon Blue (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Cardinals.
Davis was signed from the practice squad to the active roster Monday, and now he and Hunter Luepke will be the options at running back behind starter Javonte Williams. Blue lost a fumble during the Cowboys' Week 8 loss at Denver, so this move appears to be related to performance. In any case, Davis has just two carries for three yards in two previous appearances this season, and he's unlikely to carve too much into Williams' workhorse role Week 9.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Heads back to practice squad
Rotowire
Davis reverted to the Cowboys' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Davis was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 44-24 loss to the Broncos, logging two carries for three yards while playing four offensive snaps. Additionally, he was on the field for 20 snaps with the special-teams unit. Davis can be elevated once more this season before the team would have to officially sign him to the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Malik Davis: Joins Cowboys' practice squad
Rotowire
Davis was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday.
Davis cleared waivers after being let go Tuesday, and he will now stick around Dallas as a member of the team's practice unit. The running back didn't appear in a regular-season game with the team in 2024 after three appearances the year before, so he'll look to earn an elevation again in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malik Davis: Links back up with Cowboys
Rotowire
Davis signed a contract with the Cowboys on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Davis gives the Cowboys additional depth at running back while Miles Sanders (knee) and Jaydon Blue (heel) recover from injuries. Despite the short turnaround before Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams, Davis may see some action, as he should have a quicker learning curve after spending last season on Dallas' practice squad.
