FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are waiving running back Phil Mafah, sources told Dallas Sports Journal. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler first reported the move.
Dallas has to be at 53 players by Sunday’s 5 p.m. CT deadline. Mafah has fewer than four accrued seasons. He goes to waivers rather than straight to free agency, and Dallas can sign him to the practice squad if he clears.
Mafah started the preseason finale Friday night at AT&T Stadium and led Dallas with 12 carries for 46 yards. Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and Jaydon Blue all sat. Israel Abanikanda carried 7 times for 16 yards and caught 3 passes for 16 yards. The New Orleans Saints won 27-24, and Dallas closed the preseason 2-1.
Dallas took Mafah 239th overall out of Clemson in the seventh round of the 2025 draft, using a pick acquired from the Tennessee Titans. He signed a four-year contract worth $4.31 million in May 2025.
A shoulder injury put Mafah on injured reserve before the 2025 opener, and he stayed there until the Week 18 finale against the New York Giants. He carried 5 times for 18 yards in that game and scored from the 1-yard line. He caught both of his targets for 11 yards.
This August, Mafah left the preseason opener at Seattle with a chest injury after 4 carries for 9 yards. A week later at Arizona, he did not carry the ball until the fourth quarter, when his first attempt went 15 yards for a touchdown. He returned the opening kickoff in that game as well.
The Running Backs Ahead Of Phil Mafah
In February, Javonte Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension that includes $16 million guaranteed. He carried 252 times for 1,201 yards last season.
Malik Davis came to Dallas undrafted out of Florida in 2022. Last season he ran 52 times for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in 10 games. He works as the personal protector on punts. Dallas placed him on injured reserve before Week 18 and activated him Feb. 15.
Dallas drafted Jaydon Blue 149th overall out of Texas in the same 2025 class. He dressed for 5 games as a rookie and carried 38 times for 129 yards with 1 touchdown. Against the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 22, he led Dallas with 15 carries for 75 yards and returned a kickoff 26 yards.
Phil Mafah Was Left Off Both Aug. 23 Roster Projections
Two 53-man roster projections published Aug. 23 had already left Mafah off. Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News kept Williams, Davis, Blue, and fullback Hunter Luepke, and listed Abanikanda as a practice squad candidate. Jon Machota of The Athletic wrote that Davis is the back Dallas is most comfortable with in the No. 2 role.
Dallas entered cutdown weekend at 91 players. Week 1 is Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium against the Giants. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
