Davis signed with the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Malik Davis: Cut by Dallas
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The Cowboys waived Davis on Tuesday.
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 on the practice squad or explore his opportunities elsewhere.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Gets start in preseason finale
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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.
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.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Gets first RB touch Saturday
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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.
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.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Signs reserve/future deal
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The Cowboys signed Davis to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
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.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Elevated ahead of Sunday
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The Cowboys elevated Davis to their active roster Saturday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
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).
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Elevated for Monday's game
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Davis has been elevated from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Chargers, Nick Harris of the Cowboys' official site reports.
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.
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Malik Davis: Back with Cowboys on practice squad
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Dallas signed Davis to the practice squad Wednesday, Patrik Walker of the team's official site reports.
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.
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Malik Davis: Cut loose by Dallas
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The Cowboys cut Davis on Tuesday, Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reports.
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.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Provides solid depth as rookie
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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.
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 agent, and Ezekiel Elliott, a declining veteran with a big contract, have somewhat uncertain futures with the Cowboys, so depending on what happens in the offseason it's possible Davis will head into 2023 with a more prominent role.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Five carries in finale
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Davis carried the ball five times for 19 yards in Sunday's loss to the Commanders.
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.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Week 17 Adds (RB Preview)
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The Cowboys like Davis' talent and could give him a lot of work in the second half against a Titans defense resting most of their good players. He has a higher ceiling than Zack Moss or Hassas Haskins if everything goes right, but there is not much floor if the game stays competitive. We do not expect the game to stay competitive.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Could be busy Thursday
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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.
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 dramatically affect their postseason odds, Dallas could end up turning the game into a runaway by halftime or the third quarter. If that kind of game script comes to fruition, Elliott could be rested for most of the second half, paving the way for Davis to see more opportunities. Most of Davis' opportunities to date this season have come in garbage-time scenarios, with the rookie carrying 23 times for 103 yards and a touchdown and adding four receptions for 40 yards on five targets across 47 total snaps on offense.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Nine touches in Sunday's rout
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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.
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 Vikings.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Ten touches in Sunday's win
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Davis gained 23 rushing yards on eight carries and caught both his targets for 18 yards in Sunday's win over the Bears.
With Ezekiel Elliott (knee) sidelined, Davis saw his first action of the season on offense and had a solid performance as the Cowboys' No. 2 running back behind Tony Pollard. Dallas has a Week 9 bye and Elliott could be back in action the following week against the Packers, however, which would relegate Davis back to a special-teams role.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Joins up with active roster
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Dallas signed Davis from its practice squad to the 53-man roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game versus Chicago, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
With usual starting running back Ezekiel Elliott (knee) listed as doubtful, the Cowboys saw fit to promote Davis for depth behind Tony Pollard. Davis, a rookie UDFA from Florida, has played exclusively on special teams through two games this season, but he could see his first NFL carry in Week 8.
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Malik Davis: Heads back to practice squad
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Davis reverted to the Cowboys' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Davis was promoted to Dallas' game-day roster for the first time this season, as third-string running back Rico Dowdle (ankle) was placed on IR ahead of Sunday's 26-17 loss to the Eagles. The undrafted rookie then played exclusively on special teams and failed to record a statistic during his NFL debut. Davis will now be eligible for two more elevations while on the Cowboys' practice squad this season.
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Malik Davis: Lands on Cowboys' practice squad
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Davis has been signed to Dallas' practice squad, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Davis was unable to beat out Rico Dowdle for the No. 3 running back role on the depth chart. He will now continue practicing with the team while he awaits another opportunity for the 53-man roster.
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Malik Davis: Waived by Cowboys
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Dallas waived Davis on Tuesday.
Davis failed to beat out Rico Dowdle for the No. 3 spot behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard despite an impressive preseason, but he could very well pop back up on the practice squad. The undrafted rookie out of Florida may have even showcased enough to earn attention on the waiver wire from other clubs.
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Cowboys' Malik Davis: Pushing for roster spot
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Davis carried the ball eight times for 37 yards and a touchdown and caught his only target for six yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Chargers.
The undrafted rookie out of Florida continues to make a good impression as he fights for a spot on the Cowboys' initial 53-man roster. Rico Dowdle also scored a rushing TD in the game, however, and Dallas may not have room for both on the backfield depth chart behind Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. According to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, Davis has shown enough promise in camp and the preseason that he likely won't clear waivers if the Cowboys try to place him on the practice squad, so he could wind up making his NFL debut with a team in more need of help at RB.
