Malik Davis will miss the season after suffering a hip injury during Friday practice, the Cowboys said. The injury happened during a non-contact outdoor workout at The Star in Frisco that was only a little beyond a walk-through. Davis was removed by cart, underwent surgery later that night and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
Davis had won the backup job behind Javonte Williams after competing for it through most of August. His training camp and preseason performances led the Cowboys to expect a role for him in their offensive plans for Sunday’s game against the Giants. Stephen Jones, the team’s chief operating officer, told 105.3 The Fan that the injury was disappointing for Davis and the Cowboys.
Jones said Davis had earned the position through his work, leaving the team to depend on other players.
The Cowboys added veteran Emari Demercado for backfield depth and special-teams help. Israel Abanikanda, who is on the practice squad, also could see more opportunities. The team could elevate him for the game or place him on the active roster.
Davis backed up Williams last season, rushing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. The undrafted free agent joined Dallas in 2022, appeared in 12 games as a rookie and ran for 161 yards. After two seasons on the practice squad, he returned for last year’s training camp, made the roster and posted 103 rushing yards, the only 100-yard game of his career.
