Cowboys Suffer Brutal Injury News Before Season Opener

The Dallas Cowboys placed running back Malik Davis on injured reserve Saturday without a designation to return this season, ending his year one day before the opener against the New York Giants.

Davis injured his hip during Friday’s practice and left the field on a cart. Surgery followed Saturday.

The team did not designate him to return in 2026, meaning he will miss the entire regular season and any playoffs.

As a corresponding roster move, Dallas signed running back Israel Abanikanda from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Patrik Walker of DallasCowboys.com first reported both transactions Saturday.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones had already signaled the seriousness of the injury.

“Unfortunately, I think he’s looking at a pretty serious injury that could take him out for some period of time,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan. “We don’t have the final details; we’ll know more, but certainly so disappointed for Malik.”

A source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler simply that “it’s bad.”

Davis, 27, joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Florida in 2022. He has appeared in 25 games, rushing 90 times for 411 yards and three touchdowns.

Last season he carried 52 times for 250 yards and two scores in 10 games, including a 103-yard effort against Washington on Christmas Day.

He entered 2026 as the primary backup to starter Javonte Williams after winning the job in camp over younger backs.

Williams is expected to remain the workhorse. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer called him the team’s “bell cow” this week and said Dallas will feed him carries.

Emari Demercado, claimed off waivers after final cuts, now figures as the main complement. Fullback Hunter Luepke also remains available in short-yardage and blocking situations.

Abanikanda, a 2023 fifth-round pick of the Jets, spent time with the 49ers and Packers before landing on Dallas’ practice squad. He has 22 career carries for 70 yards in six NFL games.

The backfield loss compounds an already difficult week. Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith underwent thumb surgery earlier and is also on injured reserve for at least the first four games.

Dallas opens the season Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Williams will carry the load against a Giants run defense that ranked among the league’s worst a year ago.

Davis had finally carved out a featured role after years bouncing between the practice squad and active roster. The timing leaves the Cowboys thinner than planned at a position they hoped would stay healthy.