OXNARD, Calif. — Malik Davis has been waived or released by Dallas several times since he arrived as an undrafted rookie in 2022. Dak Prescott was asked Thursday why the Dallas Cowboys running back keeps getting overlooked.
Prescott did not agree that he has been. He had just been talking about players fighting for jobs when Davis came up.
“I don’t know who loses him or what,” Prescott said. “Turn on the tape. You turn on the tape, and from practice tape to the game tape, you’ll know I’ve been one of the biggest fans of Malik from day one or so of him being here.”
Prescott has watched Davis go through four years of roster moves without changing much about how he approaches the job.
“What makes a man is always going to come to fruition,” Prescott explained. “And I think that’s who Malik is, a guy that just believes in himself, does everything right, knows what it means to be a great teammate, loves this game and works his ass off in every aspect of this game.”
Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday that Davis and Israel Abanikanda have earned more first-team reps than the rest of the running back room.
Waived, Signed, Waived Again
Dallas signed Davis as an undrafted free agent out of Florida on May 3, 2022. He was waived at the end of camp that August, signed to the practice squad the next day, and made it onto the active roster by late October.
A year later, Dallas waived him again on Aug. 29. He cleared, and the Cowboys brought him back. It happened again on Aug. 27, 2024. Davis returned to the practice squad that time too, but never got an elevation during the season.
Dallas released him April 30, 2025, after reshaping the room with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah.
For more than three months, Davis did not have a team. The Cowboys called him back Aug. 8, about two weeks into training camp, and he led Dallas in rushing in a preseason game the next night.
He still did not make the initial 53. Dallas waived him Aug. 26 and signed him to the practice squad two days later.
Then came Nov. 3 against Arizona. Davis was activated for the Monday night game and carried once for 3 yards. He was also on the field for 5 offensive snaps and 14 on special teams.
Dallas waived him the next day while making room after the trade deadline. He cleared waivers again, returned to the practice squad, and was back on the active roster by Nov. 22. Davis finished the season as Dallas’ No. 2 running back.
Malik Davis Kept Showing Up Anyway
Prescott’s point was that teams are always looking for somebody else.
“You’re going to draft people, you’re going to bring people in, you’re always trying to get what’s new or what’s hot,” Prescott said. “But you can’t deny somebody who shows up each and every day and does right. And that’s simply Malik.”
Davis has rushed for 411 yards and 3 touchdowns in his career while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also has 8 catches for 79 yards.
He is listed at 5-10 and 205 pounds and is now in his fifth season with Dallas. At Florida, Davis rushed for 1,470 yards and 8 touchdowns in 46 games across five seasons.
Where Malik Davis Stands In The Backfield
Javonte Williams is the lead back. Blue was limited again Thursday because of the shoulder injury he suffered in Seattle.
Mafah and Abanikanda both left that game with rib injuries. Mafah is also dealing with a chest injury. Dominic Richardson, an undrafted rookie, remains in the group.
Schottenheimer’s evaluation of Davis on Thursday was straightforward. He called him consistent and pointed to what he gives Dallas on offense, special teams, and in pass protection. He also likes the way Davis runs behind his pads.
The Cowboys wrapped up their Oxnard practices Thursday and play at the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. They will be back on the field for open practices at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.
Dallas finishes the preseason against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28. Kickoff is 7 p.m. CT. The Cowboys then cut the roster from 91 players to 53 before the regular season.
