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Dallas Backfield Suffers Blow as Malik Davis Ruled Out
Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis is out for the season opener and could miss more time after suffering a serious hip injury in practice.
By the EagleEyeOdds desk, 37 min ago
A Major Setback in Practice
The Dallas Cowboys will be without running back Malik Davis for their season opener against the New York Giants. Davis suffered a hip injury during Friday's practice and had to be carted off the field for further testing.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones spoke about the situation on 1053.3 The Fan. Jones called it a "pretty serious injury that could take him out for some period of time."
This is another tough blow for the Dallas offense. Earlier in the week, Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith underwent left thumb surgery. Smith will miss at least the first four games of the season on injured reserve.
Earning the Backup Role
Davis had earned the primary backup job behind starting running back Javonte Williams. He secured the spot after an impressive training camp and a strong preseason. In two preseason games, Davis rushed for 68 yards on 12 carries and caught an 8 yard touchdown pass.
His path to the backup role was impressive. The Cowboys released Davis in the spring of 2025, but he rejoined the team before the final preseason game last summer. After starting on the practice squad, he worked his way up to the second spot on the depth chart.
Last regular season, Davis rushed for 250 yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries. His season highlights included a 103 yard rushing performance against the Washington Commanders on Christmas Day.
Adjusting the Depth Chart
With Davis sidelined, the Cowboys will rely on Emari Demercado and fullback Hunter Luepke to support Williams. Dallas claimed Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs after final roster cuts.
Demercado has experience playing under Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams from their time with the Arizona Cardinals. In three seasons with the Cardinals, Demercado rushed for 819 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 324 receiving yards and one touchdown catch.
The loss of Davis also hurts the Dallas special teams unit. He was a core contributor on both kickoff and punt coverage and return units. Last year, Davis served as the personal protector on the punt team and recorded seven special teams tackles.
