What Malik Davis's Hip Injury Means for the Cowboys' Running-Back Depth
The Dallas Cowboys had a plan at running back. Malik Davis was the No. 2 option behind Javonte Williams. That plan lasted until a practice injury.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that Davis sustained a season-ending hip injury in practice, and the Cowboys placed him on injured reserve the next day. The team then added Israel Abanikanda from the practice squad to the active roster.
A No. 2 Job That Vanished in One Practice
Davis held the backup spot through training camp. Second-year back Jaydon Blue, a Texas product, competed with him. The Cowboys waived Blue at the end of the preseason. That decision looked like a vote of confidence in Davis. It also left Dallas thinner at the position when Davis went down.
The timing made the loss harder. Dallas had already settled its backfield roles. Williams was the starter. Davis was next. Emari Demercado was claimed off waivers from Kansas City after final cuts. Then Davis got hurt, and the Cowboys had to make another move.
The Replacement Behind Javonte Williams
Demercado will fill the role behind Williams in Sunday's season opener at the New York Giants. He has a history with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams. They were together for Demercado's first two years with the Arizona Cardinals. That familiarity matters for a running back who has to learn protections, alignments, and checkdown rules quickly.
Dallas also has fullback Hunter Luepke. He can absorb some short-yardage and blocking work, but he is not a direct replacement for a change-of-pace running back.
Why Abanikanda Matters
Abanikanda was a fifth-round pick by the New York Jets three years ago. He joined the Dallas practice squad last season. His promotion gives the Cowboys another active running back and some insurance against another injury.
It does not guarantee carries. Active-roster spots and game-day roles are different things. The available reporting does not say how Dallas will divide touches between Demercado, Abanikanda, and Luepke behind Williams.
What the Roster Move Says About Depth
Losing a backup running back usually does not change a season. But the Cowboys' depth chart was already settled by cutdown day. They had waived Blue and claimed Demercado. When Davis got hurt, the team had to make another move immediately. The quick signing of Abanikanda shows how narrow the margin is at a position that takes repeated hits.
Dallas still has Williams as the lead back. Demercado steps into the No. 2 role. Luepke can handle fullback duties. Beyond that, the room is unproven.
The Bigger Point
Running back depth is not about one star. It is about who can absorb practice reps, pass protect, and carry the ball if the starter misses time. Davis had earned that trust. His injury removes it. The Cowboys now rely on a waiver claim with scheme familiarity and a practice-squad promotion to hold the room together. That is a workable plan. It is also a fragile one.