Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis suffered a serious hip injury during Friday’s practice and had to be carted off the field just two days before their season opener against the New York Giants. The setback threatens to sideline the newly minted No. 2 running back for an extended period.
The Dallas Cowboys offensive backfield absorbed a major blow on Friday when running back Malik Davis sustained a hip injury during the team’s final practice session before Week 1. Multiple reporters confirmed that the running back had to be carted off the practice field, throwing the team’s running back depth into sudden uncertainty ahead of Sunday’s matchup.
Stephen Jones Confirms Serious Hip Injury
Appearing on 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) on Friday, Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones addressed the severity of the incident. Unfortunately, I think he's looking at a pretty serious injury that could take him out for some period of time,
Jones said during the interview. While team medical staff awaited final diagnostic results, Jones acknowledged the immediate impact on the roster.
We don't have the final details, we'll know more, but certainly so disappointed for Malik. Obviously tough for our team, but like anything it's next man up.
— Stephen Jones, Cowboys Chief Operating Officer
Jones also highlighted the hard road Davis traveled to secure a spot on the 53-man roster. Very disappointing. Malik has done everything the right way,
Jones noted, praising the running back’s work ethic and persistence after coming from behind in a competitive training camp.
How Davis Won the No. 2 Job Behind Javonte Williams
Davis, 27, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Florida following the 2022 NFL Draft. Over the past few years, he has been on and off the Cowboys’ roster and practice squad, signing a futures contract this past January, getting waived following the draft, and returning to the team.
During the 2025 season, Davis appeared in 10 games for the Cowboys and recorded 52 rushing attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with two receptions for 16 yards. In a previous season referenced in team history, he finished with 90 carries and 416 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yard touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving and his first-career 100-yard game against the Washington Commanders on Christmas.
In a crowded backfield competition that lasted nearly the entire month of August, Davis impressed consistently and won the job over 2025 draft picks Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Both Blue and Mafah were waived during final roster cuts. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised that trajectory after final cuts, noting that the player went from being on the street, not getting really hardly any looks, even workouts, back in Oxnard, and solidifying himself as a very valuable member of the football team. I think this is more a testament to a guy like Malik Davis that has just, time in and time out, come back and proven his worth,
Schottenheimer said.
Roster Options and Next Steps for the Dallas Backfield
With Davis sidelined indefinitely, the Cowboys must immediately reconfigure their offensive game plan and special teams assignments. In addition to his offensive role, Davis is the starting personal protector on the punt team, as well as a fixture on other special teams, where Cowboys safety P.J. Locke could factor into replacing those duties.
On offense, Dallas added veteran Emari Demercado as the third back for depth and special teams help after claiming him off waivers on August 31. While Davis still figured to have a role in the offensive game plan on Sunday against the Giants, the Cowboys will now likely turn to both Demercado and perhaps Israel Abanikanda, who is currently on the practice squad. The team could either use a game-day elevation for Abanikanda or put him on the active roster as an evaluation of Davis’s condition determines their final moves ahead of Sunday night’s game in New York.
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