The Dallas Cowboys announced a set of roster moves Saturday after running back Malik Davis sustained a serious hip injury.
The team officially placed Davis on season-ending injured reserve and signed running back Israel Abanikanda to its active roster from the practice squad. Davis was carted off the practice field Friday after suffering what COO Stephen Jones described as a “pretty serious” injury.
Javonte Williams is the starter at running back for Sunday night’s Cowboys-Giants game. His backup will be Emari Demercado, who was claimed off waivers August 31 as part of a flurry of moves that saw the Cowboys sign 13 practice squad players.
“Emari is a guy that [offensive coordinator] Klayton [Adams] has exposure to,” coach Brian Schottenheimer said when Demercado was claimed in late August. “Good veteran, plays special teams and there’s a lot of things that we like about him.”
The Cowboys kept two running backs, Abanikanda and Demercado, over Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Blue and Mafah were drafted last season but were released.
Demercado, who was claimed after he was cut by Kansas City, spent three seasons in Arizona, where Adams was offensive line coach in 2023 and 2024.
For Abanikanda, Sunday’s game is a homecoming. He went to high school in Brooklyn and was a fifth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2023. He was released by the Jets in December 2024. He spent time with the 49ers and Packers before joining the Cowboys’ practice squad in November.
Abanikanda was impressive in training camp. He was initially released but the Cowboys signed him to their practice squad.
Now he’s got a chance to play in the season opener.