- Malik Davis
- #34
- Team DAL
- Pos RB
- Status AActive
-
Sticking around in Dallas
Davis signed with the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Cowboys opted to keep Deuce Vaughn on the initial 53-man roster behind Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle. Dallas also signed sign Dalvin Cook to the practice squad Wednesday, and he could be added to the active roster ahead of Week 1. Davis will have a chance to be elevated to the game-day roster should any of the aforementioned running backs miss any time.
Published: Wed, Aug 28 at 4:30pm by Rotowire.com
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Cut by Dallas
The Cowboys waived Davis on Tuesday.
Analysis: Davis appeared in three regular-season games for the Cowboys in 2023 while spending most of the season on the practice squad. He entered training camp battling Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman for a backup running back role behind Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott. Davis didn't get a lot of opportunities across his three preseason outings, finishing with 18 carries for 60 yards while adding three catches on seven targets for 18 yards. Assuming he clears waivers, Davis could look to remain in Dallas…read more
Published: Tue, Aug 27 at 6:12pm by Rotowire.com
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Gets start in preseason finale
Davis carried the ball five times for 28 yards and caught his only target for minus-2 yards in Saturday's 26-19 preseason loss to the Chargers. He also returned one kickoff for 25 yards.
Analysis: Davis got the start once again in the backfield due to Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott sitting out, but he quickly yielded snaps to Deuce Vaughn and eventually Royce Freeman. Which of those backs will claim depth roles on the RB depth chart remains unclear, but Davis at least didn't seem to hurt his chances with a solid, if abbreviated, performance Saturday.
Published: Sat, Aug 24 at 6:33pm by Rotowire.com
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Gets first RB touch Saturday
Davis rushed five times for 14 yards and returned one kickoff for 14 yards in the Cowboys' 27-12 preseason win over the Raiders on Saturday night.
Analysis: Davis was the first Cowboys running back to log a touch with Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle sitting out, but he found limited success during his time on the field. Davis did not record any rush attempts or receptions last season after carrying 38 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and recording six receptions in his rookie 2022 campaign, and he's battling the likes of Deuce Vaughn and Royce Freeman for a reserve running back spot with one preseason game remaining.
Published: Sat, Aug 17 at 10:30pm by Rotowire.com
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Signs reserve/future deal
The Cowboys signed Davis to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Davis spent the entirety of the 2023 season on Dallas' practice squad, getting called up for three games. He played zero offensive snaps but saw 47 on special teams. Both Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle are scheduled to hit free agency in March.
Published: Wed, Jan 17 at 5:11pm by Rotowire.com
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Reverts back to practice squad
Davis reverted to the Cowboys' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Analysis: Davis played 16 snaps on special teams but didn't record any stats during Sunday's 22-20 loss to the Dolphins. The veteran running back has appeared in three games for Dallas this season, but he hasn't yet handled an offensive snap.
Published: Tue, Dec 26 at 7:50am by Rotowire.com
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Elevated ahead of Sunday
The Cowboys elevated Davis to their active roster Saturday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: The second-year pro is now in line to appear in his third game of the season Sunday, most likely adding depth to Dallas' special teams unit. Over the course of Davis' two appearances this year, he's played a total of 31 snaps (all as a special-teamer).
Published: Sat, Dec 23 at 11:57am by Rotowire.com
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Back to practice squad
Davis reverted to Dallas' practice squad Monday.
Analysis: Davis has appeared in two games for the Cowboys this season but has played zero offensive snaps. He's seen 31 on special teams.
Published: Mon, Dec 18 at 5:58pm by Rotowire.com
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Elevated from practice squad
Davis was elevated from the practice squad by the Cowboys on Saturday, The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: The running back is listed as fourth on Dallas' running back depth chart behind Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. Davis has played in one game this season but has yet to see an offensive snap.
Published: Sat, Dec 16 at 12:42pm by Rotowire.com
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Goes back to practice squad
Davis reverted to Dallas' practice squad Tuesday.
Analysis: In his 2023 debut, Davis recorded 14 snaps, all on special teams. As long as Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn remain healthy, Davis' path to carries is essentially nonexistent.
Published: Wed, Oct 18 at 2:14pm by Rotowire.com
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Elevated for Monday's game
Davis has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Chargers, Nick Harris of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Analysis: This marks Davis' first elevation of the season, with the running back in line to provide the team with another Week 6 depth behind top back Tony Pollard. During the 2022 season, Davis carried 38 times for 161 yards and a TD while adding six catches (on seven targets) for 63 yards in 12 games with Dallas.
Published: Mon, Oct 16 at 2:57pm by Rotowire.com
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Back with Cowboys on practice squad
Dallas signed Davis to the practice squad Wednesday, Patrik Walker of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Davis couldn't make the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster, but the veteran back will stick around as an emergency reserve option on the practice squad. At one point fantasy managers eyed Davis as the likeliest top backup to Tony Pollard, but Dallas instead seems set to roll out Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn as depth options, with Ronald Jones (suspension) out the first two games of the regular season.
Published: Thu, Aug 31 at 6:42am by Rotowire.com
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Cut loose by Dallas
The Cowboys cut Davis on Tuesday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Davis appeared to be a favorite for the second-string job at one point earlier this offseason but instead tumbled down the depth chart throughout summer. The Cowboys have minimal experience behind Tony Pollard in the backfield, with their initial 53-man roster otherwise showing Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle, plus undrafted fullback Hunter Luepke. Even if there's some rearranging before Week 1, all signs point to Pollard getting a lot of touches in a Sept. 10 season opener against the Giants.
Published: Tue, Aug 29 at 1:25pm by Rotowire.com
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Additional 10 carries
Davis carried the ball 10 times for 42 yards in Saturday's 31-16 preseason win over the Raiders.
Analysis: None of Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle or Deuce Vaughn played in the contest, leaving Davis as the second back to take the field. Davis worked behind fullback Hunter Luepke, though he still managed to put together his best performance of the preseason on the strength of a 13-yard run. The emergence of Vaughn this preseason hasn't done Davis any favors, and he seems to have tumbled to the bottom of the running back depth chart in Dallas.
Published: Sat, Aug 26 at 9:37pm by Rotowire.com
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Solid production in preseason loss
Davis rushed eight times for 32 yards and returned one kickoff for 20 yards in the Cowboys' 22-14 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night.
Analysis: Davis tied Rico Dowdle, who was the first Cowboys back to log a touch, for the team lead in carries and was second to him in rushing yards during what was a productive night for both backs. The second-year pro was exponentially better on the ground than during a preseason-opening loss to the Jaguars in which he netted only four yards on three carries; however, Dowdle's own solid night likely leaves the two very close in their job battle for a backup role heading into next Saturday night's…read more
Published: Sat, Aug 19 at 11:17pm by Rotowire.com
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Struggles in spot start
Davis was the first running back to see action for Dallas on Saturday, but he struggled to the tune of four yards on three carries and four receptions for 19 yards in a preseason loss to Jacksonville.
Analysis: Davis is looking to secure the backup role behind Tony Pollard (ankle) this preseason, so this rough outing will not help his case -- especially after Deuce Vaughn (eight carries for 50 yards and a TD) dominated when it was his turn to take the field, and even Rico Dowdle (54 scrimmage yards on nine touches) was more productive. Davis will need to rebound quickly against the Seahawks on Saturday if he wants to lock down the top reserve role in an exciting ground attack in Dallas.
Published: Sat, Aug 12 at 11:54pm by Rotowire.com
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No competition incoming
Davis appears set to head into Week 1 as the backup to Tony Pollard in the Cowboys backfield, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy refuted the idea the team might bring in Ezekiel Elliott or another veteran back in the wake of Ronald Jones' two-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drugs violation. Davis made a positive impression as a rookie in 2022 in limited action, averaging 4.2 yards per carry on 38 totes, and he'll likely battle Jones for the No. 2 role behind Pollard once Jones is reinstated. Deuce Vaughn and Rico Dowdle are the other depth options in the Dallas backfield.
Published: Wed, Aug 2 at 7:10am by Rotowire.com
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Provides solid depth as rookie
Davis carried the ball 38 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and caught six of seven targets for 63 yards over 12 games in the 2022 regular season.
Analysis: An undrafted rookie out of Florida, Davis made an impression in camp and began the season on the practice squad before taking over the No. 3 RB spot on the Dallas depth chart after Rico Dowdle (ankle) was lost for the year in October. Davis scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 12 against the Colts, but his best performance came with Tony Pollard (ankle) sidelined in Week 17, when the rookie turned 12 touches into 62 yards against a stingy Titans run defense. Both Pollard, an unrestricted free…read more
Published: Sat, Jan 28 at 11:45am by Rotowire.com
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Five carries in finale
Davis carried the ball five times for 19 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders.
Analysis: The Cowboys offense ended the regular season with a whimper and scored only six points, while Davis' 19 rushing yards actually tied for the team lead. Heading into a wild-card round matchup with the Buccaneers, the undrafted rookie out of Florida remains firmly behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard on the depth chart, and Davis might only see action Monday if things have gone very well -- or very poorly -- for Dallas.
Published: Mon, Jan 9 at 9:31am by Rotowire.com
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Solid with expanded workload
Davis rushed 10 times for 39 yards and brought in both targets for 23 yards in the Cowboys' 27-13 win over the Titans on Thursday night.
Analysis: Davis ended up being much more efficient than backfield mate Ezekiel Elliott, who gained just 39 yards on his 17 carries, albeit while also scoring a touchdown. The undrafted rookie's carry total was a career high, as were his rushing and receiving yardage tallies. Even if Tony Pollard (thigh) garners active status for the Week 18 road matchup against the Commanders a week from Sunday, Davis could still have a role in that game if the Cowboys limit the workload of their top two backs in that…read more
Published: Thu, Dec 29 at 9:22pm by Rotowire.com
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Could be busy Thursday
Davis is in line to serve as the top backup to Ezekiel Elliott in Thursday's game against the Titans with Tony Pollard (thigh) listed as questionable but set to be inactive for the contest, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: Elliott and Pollard have worked in a fairly equitable timeshare over the past six weeks when both backs have been available, but with Pollard sitting out Week 17, look for Elliott to occupy a larger portion of the backfield work, at least during the first half of the contest. However, with most sportsbooks listing the Cowboys as two-touchdown favorites against a Titans squad that will be breaking in a new starting quarterback (Joshua Dobbs) and resting several key players in a game that doesn't…read more
Published: Thu, Dec 29 at 12:49pm by Rotowire.com
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Scores first career TD
Davis carried the ball three times for 29 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 54-19 rout of the Colts.
Analysis: Seeing action late in the fourth quarter during garbage time with the game well in hand, Davis wrapped up the scoring with a 23-yard TD scamper. It was the rookie's first career touchdown in the NFL, but it may not be his last this season as the Cowboys' high-powered offense could run up the score against more opponents, including the lowly Texans in Week 14.
Published: Mon, Dec 5 at 10:49am by Rotowire.com
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Nine touches in Sunday's rout
Davis carried the ball seven times for 13 yards and caught two of three targets for 22 yards in Sunday's 40-3 win over the Vikings.
Analysis: The Cowboys had plenty of garbage-time snaps to go around, and Davis wound up nearly matching the season-high 10 touches he saw Week 8 when Ezekiel Elliott was sidelined. Both Elliott (47 total yards, two TDs) and Tony Pollard (189 total yards, two TDs) were very productive Sunday and remain entrenched in the backfield, so Davis should fall back into a pure depth role for Dallas' Thanksgiving game against the Giants, assuming the final score is a little bit closer than it was against the…read more
Published: Mon, Nov 21 at 10:20am by Rotowire.com
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Performs well in backup role
Davis rushed five times for 38 yards and was not targeted in Sunday's 31-28 loss to Green Bay.
Analysis: Ezekiel Elliott (knee) was unable to suit up coming out of the bye, so Davis got another shot to back up Tony Pollard. The undrafted rookie was far more effective this time around (7.6 YPC) after struggling with twice as many touches last week. Zeke's status for next Sunday's tilt against Minnesota is still uncertain, but Davis would need both of the Cowboys' starting running backs to be sidelined to generate value in standard leagues.
Published: Sun, Nov 13 at 11:29pm by Rotowire.com
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