Mafah (shoulder) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday's matchup against the Commanders, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
The 2025 seventh-round pick from Clemson practiced in a limited fashion throughout the week but won't make his NFL debut in Thursday's divisional matchup. While Mafah remains on the injured reserve list, expect Javonte Williams and Malik Davis to handle Dallas' backfield duties.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Listed as limited again Tuesday
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Mafah (shoulder) was limited in Tuesday's practice, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Dallas opened Mafah's 21-day practice window last week, and he remains on injured reserve. The seventh-round rookie running back has yet to play in a game this season.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Estimated as limited Monday
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Mafah (shoulder) was estimated as limited on Monday's practice report, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Mafah remains on injured reserve but had his 21-day practice window opened last week. The rookie has spent the first 16 weeks of the season on injured reserve after suffering the injury during the preseason.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Not yet ready to return
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Mafah (shoulder) has not been activated from injured reserve Saturday and is ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Patrik Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Mafah had his 21-day practice window opened Wednesday and has logged limited sessions since, but he won't come off IR in time for Sunday's contest against the Chargers. The rookie seventh-round pick's next opportunity to suit up will come in Week 17 against the Commanders on Christmas Day.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Questionable for Week 16
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Mafah (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Mafah opened the season on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. He was cleared to return to practice Wednesday, and the rookie seventh-rounder has a chance to make his NFL regular-season debut Sunday after a week of limited practices. However, if he does return, then Mafah would likely be limited to special teams while serving as the Cowboys' RB4 behind Javonte Williams, Malik Davis and fellow rookie Jaydon Blue (who has been a healthy scratch since Week 9).
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Practice window opens
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Mafah (shoulder) was designated to return from the injured reserve list Wednesday.
The rookie running back from Clemson was placed on IR in late August due to a shoulder issue, but it now appears he's nearing a return. Mafah has yet to make his NFL debut after posting 1,115 rushing yards, 103 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns during his final collegiate season. He must still be activated to the Cowboys' active roster in order to suit up for the Week 16 matchup against the Chargers.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Officially lands on IR
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The Cowboys placed Mafah (shoulder) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Mafah suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason finale and will now be sidelined for a minimum of the first four games of the regular season. He'll likely be buried on the depth chart when he returns, but the Cowboys' running back situation is quite uncertain entering the season.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Punches in TD in preseason finale
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Mafah carried the ball twice for 16 yards and a touchdown and failed to catch his only target in Friday's 31-13 preseason win over the Falcons.
The 2025 seventh-round pick didn't see a touch until the fourth quarter, only entering the game on offense after Jaydon Blue (ankle) hobbled off the field. Mafah took advantage of his opportunity however, getting two red-zone carries and punching in the second one from one yard out for Dallas' final TD of the night. Miles Sanders (shoulder) was also held out of the contest, so the Cowboys' depth chart behind presumed Week 1 starter Javonte Williams could be wide open, with Deuce Vaughn also in the mix along with Mafah for any open spots.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Healthy to begin pro career
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Mafah indicated Friday that he played through a torn labrum in his shoulder during his final college season at Clemson, Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News reports.
The injury may have contributed to Mafah lasting until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he's looked good in padded practices since training camp began, using his physicality and vision to produce some chunk plays. He's in line to see a big workload during Saturday's preseason opener against the Rams due to starter Javonte Williams likely being held out and both Miles Sanders (knee) and 2025 fifth-round pick Jaydon Blue (heel) nursing injuries. A big performance from Mafah could create a very interesting battle in the Cowboys backfield between the two veterans and the two rookies ahead of Week 1.
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Cowboys' Phil Mafah: Adds power to Dallas backfield
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The Cowboys selected Mafah in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 239th overall.
Dallas covered its bases with running back selections Day 3. In Jaydon Blue (fifth round), the Cowboys got one of the speediest backs in the class. Mafah brings the thump at 6-foot-1 and 234 pounds. He split the backfield work with Will Shipley at Clemson in 2023 and took 179 carries for 965 yards and 13 scores. As the feature back in 2024, Mafah's workload swelled to 216 carries for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. Mafah is far from a speedster but can carve out a role as a short-yardage specialist. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders will likely see the bulk of the action this season, but a Mafah-Blue backfield could be interesting in the future.
