From Newsweek · Matt Audilet · · 1m 20s
Cowboys rookie carted off days before his debut
Malik Davis earned the No. 2 running back job out of camp, then went down at Friday practice.
In brief
Malik Davis earned the No. 2 running back job out of camp, then went down at Friday practice. An undrafted rookie who climbed to RB2 may miss his own debut, and Emari Demercado is next in line. Originally reported by Newsweek.
A rookie who earned it
Undrafted running back Malik Davis played his way up through Cowboys training camp and preseason, landing the No. 2 job behind Javonte Williams for 2026.
Carted off on Friday
Multiple reporters at practice saw Davis leave the field on a cart. The team has not said what the injury is or how bad it looks.
The cart says plenty
Nobody has put a timeline on it yet, but players who need a ride off the practice field rarely get good news the next morning.
What the insider heard
Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr. said the team is still checking the severity, and that Sunday already looks like a long shot.
“Doesn't look good for Sunday at the moment Hopefully it's not too serious. Davis was finally getting his opportunity.”
Days from his first game
Davis was set to make his career debut in Week 1 against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET.
Demercado waits in line
If Davis cannot go, Emari Demercado slides into the No. 2 spot behind Williams and takes the carries Davis spent all summer winning.
What it means
An undrafted rookie who climbed to RB2 may miss his own debut, and Emari Demercado is next in line.
