Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis was carted off the practice field Friday at The Star after sustaining a hip injury during a non-contact session that DallasCowboys.com described as only a step above a walk-through. The team site, in a report by Nick Eatman updated Friday afternoon, said Davis is scheduled for hip surgery Saturday and is expected to be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
The timing leaves Dallas without its projected No. 2 back before Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, a 7:20 p.m. CT kickoff on NBC. Davis had earned that backup role after a competitive training camp and preseason, according to DallasCowboys.com, and was expected to contribute in the opener behind starter Javonte Williams.
Injury timeline from The Star
Eatman's report on DallasCowboys.com framed Friday's outdoor practice as non-contact and lightly paced relative to a full padded session. Davis still left the field on a cart. The club's subsequent update tied the hip injury to surgery the following day and to an expectation of season-ending IR placement.
NBC 5 (NBCDFW), citing DallasCowboys.com and reporting with The Associated Press, likewise described the injury as ending Davis's season before the opener. An NBC Sports fantasy note citing ESPN's Todd Archer also reported surgery and an IR placement, while noting earlier industry language about an extended absence. The team's own site is the clearest statement that the IR stint is expected to be season-ending.
Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones addressed the injury on 105.3 The Fan. "Very disappointing. Malik's done everything the right way.
He's such a good person off the field, he works his ass off, he's come from nowhere to be our No. 2 back, and he's done it the hard way," Jones said, according to DallasCowboys.com. "Now unfortunately, I think he's looking at a pretty serious injury. So disappointed for Malik.
Obviously tough for our team, but like anything it's next man up."
What the room looked like before Friday
Davis, an undrafted free agent in 2022, had carved out another roster spot as a key offensive contributor after returning mid-camp last season and posting a career year as Williams's backup, DallasCowboys.com reported. He rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns last season, including a 103-yard outing against Washington on Christmas Day - the only 100-yard game of his career, per the team site.
As a rookie he played 12 games and rushed for 161 yards before spending the next two seasons on the practice squad and then reclaiming a role.
