Malik Davis
Malik Davis
Malik Davis was supposed to enter Week 1 as the primary backup running back for the Dallas Cowboys, but that plan took a hit when the veteran suffered a hip injury in practice. Originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Florida, Davis needed some time before he established himself as a legitimate NFL player. While he didn’t start a single game last year, the running back finished the 2025 season with 52 attempts for 250 yards and two touchdowns and defeated fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue for the backup job in 2026.
Unfortunately for him, Malik Davis will not have the opportunity to earn a larger role in the offense, at least for now. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the running back will undergo surgery and land on the injured reserve. This means he will miss at least four games, but since he’s having surgery, it’s safe to say we won’t see him on the football field for quite some time.
Malik Davis
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com - David Latham, Managing Editor
Malik Davis Injury Update: Cowboys RB To Undergo Surgery, Placed on IR
Javonte Williams will still be the unquestioned RB1 in this backfield, but the Malik Davis injury does create some competition at the RB2 spot. Right now, the frontrunner for backup work would be journeyman Emari Demarcado. Demarcado, a fellow undrafted free agent, spent the past three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Starting in two games while making 40 appearances, the TCU product has 819 yards and three touchdowns on 126 attempts through his young career.
The team will likely promote running back Israel Abanikanda to the active roster following the Malik Davis injury. Abanikanda was a former fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the Pittsburgh product has yet to do much at the professional level. He appeared in six games as a rookie, recording just 70 yards on 22 attempts, and has not appeared in a game since the 2023 season.
Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images