Malik Davis will miss the season after suffering a hip injury during Friday’s practice, with surgery performed later that evening. The Dallas Cowboys reported that the running back will be placed on injured reserve for the season.
Davis was taken from the field by cart during an outdoor workout at The Star. The practice was non-contact and was described as slightly more demanding than a walk-through.
The injury came after Davis earned the No. 2 running back position behind starter Javonte Williams following a competition that continued through most of August. He had performed well during training camp and the preseason and was expected to have a role in the Cowboys’ offensive plans for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Dallas added veteran Emari Demercado as its third running back for depth and special teams assistance. With Davis unavailable, the Cowboys could use Demercado and Israel Abanikanda, who is on the practice squad. Abanikanda could be elevated for a game or added to the active roster, though the team’s final choice was not yet clear.
Davis rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns last season while backing up Williams. He originally joined Dallas as an undrafted free agent in 2022, appeared in 12 games as a rookie and gained 161 rushing yards, then spent the following two seasons on the practice squad before returning during last year’s training camp.
