FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys claimed running back Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, according to the NFL’s official transaction wire. Claims on players cut over the weekend were due at noon CT.
Demercado has to be added to the 53-man roster. Dallas had not announced a corresponding move as of Monday afternoon.
Kansas City waived Demercado on Sunday in its cutdown to 53 players. He signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs on March 16 after Arizona declined to tender him as a restricted free agent at $3.52 million. In the preseason he carried 17 times for 64 yards.
Klayton Adams Coached Emari Demercado With The Arizona Cardinals
Demercado signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent out of TCU in 2023 and spent three seasons there. Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams was Arizona’s offensive line coach in 2023 and 2024, and he agreed to terms with Dallas on Jan. 31, 2025. Adams is in his second season as offensive coordinator, and Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer calls the plays.
In 40 regular-season games with Arizona, Demercado carried 126 times for 819 yards and 3 touchdowns, and caught 50 passes for 324 yards and 1 touchdown. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Last season he ran 44 times for 312 yards and no touchdowns, and caught 13 passes for 101 yards and 1 touchdown in 13 games. He returned 6 kickoffs for 150 yards, with a long of 36.
At TCU, Demercado carried for 1,615 yards and 10 touchdowns over five seasons. He ran for 150 yards and a touchdown against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Dec. 31, 2022.
On Oct. 5, 2025, Demercado dropped the ball just short of the goal line on what would have been a 72-yard touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans. The ball rolled out of the back of the end zone, officials ruled a touchback, and Tennessee took over at its 20. The Titans won 22-21. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon was fined $100,000 by the team for a sideline confrontation with Demercado during that game, and the NFL took no further action.
Four weeks later, Demercado carried 14 times for 79 yards in Arizona’s 27-17 win at Dallas on Nov. 3. The 14 carries were his season high.
Dallas Cowboys Carried Three Running Backs On The Initial 53-Man Roster
Dallas opened the week with Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and fullback Hunter Luepke at the position. Williams ran 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and caught 35 passes for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. Davis rushed for 250 yards. Davis set a career high with 105 rushing yards against Minnesota on Dec. 14, topping the 47 yards he had against Kansas City on Thanksgiving.
The Cowboys waived Jaydon Blue on Sunday, the 149th pick in the 2025 draft. Blue carried 23 times for a team-high 94 yards in the preseason and caught 2 passes for 15 yards. Dallas waived 28 players and released 7 on Sunday to reach the limit.
Dallas opens the regular season against the New York Giants on Sunday, Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
