The Cowboys announced their 2026 practice squad<\/a> on Monday, and neither Blue nor Mafah made the cut after going unclaimed on waivers. Not a huge surprise, but still quite the fall given both had an opportunity to win the backup job. <\/p>\n Not only did the team claim Emari Demercado<\/a>, but it also signed Israel Abanikanda to the practice squad. Dallas is Abanikanda’s third team in as many years. And he made the practice squad over Blue and Mafah. <\/p>\n Talk about twisting the knife. <\/p>\n Cowboys keeping Israel Abanikanda is one last message to Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah <\/p>\n A quick look at Dallas’ practice squad: <\/p>\n Israel Abanikanda – RBJustin Barron – LBTommy Dunn – DTJordan Hudson – WRMarcellus Johnson – OTDerion Kendrick – CBAnthony Smith – WRMichael Trigg – TEIsaiah Land – OLBNick Leverett – CAdedayo Odeleye – DL (IPP)\u00a0Curtis Robinson – LBReddy Steward – DB<\/p>\n Including Abanikanda, the Cowboys now have five running backs: Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Emari Demercado, Hunter Luepke, and Abanikanda. <\/p>\n That might not be a top-15 running back room in the league, and yet Blue and Mafah still couldn’t make it. Passing through waivers unclaimed was one thing. But being passed over for Dallas’ practice squad entirely signals the coaching staff closed the book on both backs before last Friday’s preseason finale. <\/p>\n Mafah didn’t stay healthy long enough to surpass Malik Davis on the depth chart. A lot of fans thought he’d be back on the practice squad because he’s a patient, downhill runner. He was also drafted two rounds later than Blue. <\/p>\n If you meshed Mafah’s professionalism and running style with Blue’s athleticism, you’d get a damn good player. That’s what makes Blue’s time in Dallas such a disappointment. Had he just locked in, there was a prominent role in the offense waiting for him. <\/p>\n Concerns about his professionalism and maturity coming out of Texas proved very real and ultimately explain why the franchise washed its hands of him. <\/p>\n The Cowboys were ready to move on from Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah <\/p>\n Brian Schottenheimer made it pretty clear on Monday that the Cowboys weren’t pushing to add Blue to the practice squad. <\/p>\n
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