Malik Davis left Friday's outdoor session at The Star on a cart, the kind of non-contact hip injury that turns a light practice into a season-altering afternoon. DallasCowboys.com reported the session was only a step above a walk-through.
By Saturday, Nick Eatman's account said, Davis was headed for hip surgery and expected season-ending injured reserve - before the Cowboys even kick off Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants.
The setting matters. The Star is where Dallas builds its roster week to week, and Davis had just locked down the No. 2 running back job behind Javonte Williams after a camp fight that stretched through August. A practice that should have been routine instead removed the backup the staff planned to use in the Week 1 script.
Jones on the injury
"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," Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan.
"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."
That assessment, carried by the team site, matches what a source later told ESPN: surgery Saturday, IR next, and no path to MetLife for the opener.
Who steps into the No. 2 spot
With Davis out, Dallas is expected to lean on Emari Demercado - claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs after cutdowns - and possibly practice-squad back Israel Abanikanda via a game-day elevation or an active-roster bump. Fullback Hunter Luepke remains in the mix for short-yardage and specialty packages.
Jaydon Blue is now on the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, and Phil Mafah remains unsigned, thinning the external options that once sat behind Davis.
Demercado's Cardinals resume, as ESPN outlined, includes 819 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 126 carries plus 50 catches for 324 yards and a score - numbers that overlapped with offensive coordinator Klayton Adams's time in Arizona. That background is why Dallas grabbed him when the waiver wire opened.
