SEATTLE — Phil Mafah was ruled out for the remainder of Saturday night’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks with a chest injury. The Dallas Cowboys announced Mafah was done for the night as the fourth quarter began at Lumen Field.
Mafah finished with 4 carries for 9 yards. Dallas led 17-7 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Dallas Cowboys’ Backfield Behind Javonte Williams
Mafah entered the preseason trying to separate himself in the group behind Javonte Williams. The Cowboys gave several backs work Saturday. Jaydon Blue had 8 carries, while Malik Davis had 7.
Williams returned to Dallas on a three-year, $24 million contract in February after putting together his first 1,000-yard rushing season. He ran for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns on 252 carries in 16 games last season. Williams caught 35 passes as well, finishing with another 137 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air.
The first unofficial depth chart had Williams at the top, followed by Blue, Mafah, Davis, Israel Abanikanda, and Jashaun Corbin. Dallas did not use an “OR” between any of the names.
Abanikanda has been with the organization since joining the practice squad on Nov. 30. He later signed a futures contract in January. A 2023 fifth-round pick by the New York Jets, Abanikanda has 70 rushing yards and 7 catches for 43 yards in NFL regular-season action.
Corbin was the late addition to the room, signing with Dallas on Aug. 7. He came over after two productive UFL seasons, leading the league with 514 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns for the San Antonio Brahmas in 2025 before running for 438 yards with the Orlando Storm this year. Corbin has also appeared in 6 NFL games, all with the New York Giants in 2023, when he had 1 carry and caught 3 passes.
Brian Schottenheimer on Backup Running Back Battle
Two days before the opener, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer described Blue and Mafah as being in a “tight battle” for the backup job and said both would get “a ton of work” during the preseason. He did not include Davis or Abanikanda when discussing that competition Thursday in Oxnard, California.
Mafah got his first chance to make a case Saturday, but the chest injury ended his night after 4 carries.
Phil Mafah’s Injury History and Rookie Season
Dallas used the 239th overall pick on Mafah in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft after acquiring the selection in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. He came out of Clemson after rushing for 1,115 yards and scoring 8 total touchdowns as a senior.
That final college season was played with a torn labrum in Mafah’s left shoulder. He underwent surgery in December 2024, which kept him from participating at the Scouting Combine or Clemson’s Pro Day.
His first NFL preseason ended with another shoulder injury against the Atlanta Falcons. Mafah went on injured reserve and stayed there through the first 16 weeks of the regular season after totaling 59 yards and a touchdown on 15 preseason carries.
The Cowboys activated him for Week 18. Mafah made his NFL debut against the Giants, rushing 5 times for 18 yards and scoring from 1 yard out. He also caught both passes thrown his way for 11 yards.
Dallas has two more preseason games. The Cowboys visit the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. CT, then return home to face the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. CT.
The regular-season opener comes Sept. 13 against the Giants in New York. That game is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.
