FRISCO, Texas — Tyler Goodson was already at the top of the Dallas Cowboys’ running back list before they needed him, Stephen Jones said Friday.
Dallas signed Goodson off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad Tuesday. Losing Malik Davis left the Cowboys needing another back in the room, Jones said on 105.3 The Fan’s “G-Bag Nation.”
“Believe it or not, he was a guy that when we claimed our back, he was right at the top. He was right behind him,” Jones said. “We just felt like losing Malik, we needed to add another back to the room. He was tops of the list, and [we] were able to get him to come this way.”
Dallas claimed Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 31. Demercado was the No. 2 back behind Javonte Williams for the opener.
How Tyler Goodson Got To The Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta signed Goodson on March 26, waived him Aug. 31, and signed him to its practice squad Sept. 1. The Falcons kept two running backs on their initial 53-man roster. Goodson led Atlanta with 93 rushing yards across three preseason games.
Goodson, 25, went undrafted out of Iowa in 2022 and signed with the Green Bay Packers. He spent 2023 to 2025 with the Indianapolis Colts. In 33 career games, he has 54 carries for 264 yards and 1 touchdown and 19 receptions for 103 yards and 1 touchdown. He has also played 306 special teams snaps.
At Iowa, Goodson ran for 2,551 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2020.
Dallas Cowboys Running Back Moves After Malik Davis Injury
Davis was carted off the practice field at The Star on Sept. 11 with a hip injury. He had surgery the next day, and Dallas placed him on injured reserve and signed Israel Abanikanda from the practice squad to the active roster that same day. Davis won the No. 2 job behind Williams in training camp. Last season, he ran 52 times for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns in 10 games.
The Cowboys waived Abanikanda to open a roster spot for Goodson and brought him back to the practice squad Thursday.
Williams had 12 carries for 41 yards and 1 touchdown against the New York Giants and caught 5 passes for 31 yards and 1 touchdown. Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
