This isn't your first rodeo. Once the first injury domino falls, they tend to happen in bunches. The Dallas Cowboys kept a relatively clean bill of health all summer, but that ended this week with Tyler Smith and now Malik Davis suffering thumb and hip injuries, respectively.
Davis, who won the backup running back job this offseason, was reportedly carted off in Friday's practice after suffering a hip injury. The Cowboys revealed their final injury report of the week shortly after practice, and Davis had been ruled out.
Even with the quick turnaround before Sunday, that's seldom a good sign. Here's everything we know so far about Davis' status.
Latest Malik Davis injury updates
Last updated: Friday, September 11 at 5:30 pm ET
Friday, September 11
Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones appeared on 105.3 The Fan on Friday and said that Davis suffered a "pretty serious injury" that "could take him out for some period of time."
The 27-year-old is undergoing further testing to determine the severity, but there's not a single person who saw the injury or has followed up offered any semblance of optimism. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler talked to a source with the Cowboys who said, "It's bad."
At this point, you have to hope the injury isn't season-ending. Davis entered training camp as an afterthought on the running back depth chart.
In terms of generating excitement, he was a distant fourth behind Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, and Phil Mafah. He proceeded to outlast both Blue and Mafah, as well as Irsael Abanikanda, and carve out a legitimate role in the offense.
Cowboys' RB options behind Malik Davis
Emari Demercado
Both in the real world and in fantasy football, Emari Demercado just became a lot more relevant. Claimed off waivers by the Cowboys after they cut Blue and Mafah, Demercado and Javonte Williams are now the only RBs on the active roster.
Demercado is now the de facto RB behind Williams. The Cowboys have to be feeling pretty grateful that the Kansas City Chiefs waived him during roster cuts.
The fourth-year pro played under offensive coordinator Klayton Adams for two seasons in Arizona and enjoyed running in his scheme, carrying 82 times for 507 yards (6.18 yards per carry) and three scores. He's made his bones as a patient but decisive runner who has breakaway speed, and he's rock-solid in pass protection, which we know the Cowboys value.
Hunter Luepke
You can now lump fullback Hunter Luepke into that bucket. He's more of an H-back than a traditional running back, but he has plenty of experience toting the rock.
Luepke's senior year at North Dakota State was cut short due to injury, but he led the Bison in rushing over 10 games, carrying 98 times for 621 yards and nine TDs, while catching 14 passes for 196 yards and four scores as a receiver.
Cowboys fans have been eager to see how Luepke would fare running in Adams' scheme and behind this offensive line. He only received 16 carries last season, but that workload may increase if Davis' injury is as serious as it seems.
Israel Abanikanda
The Cowboys' game plan for Luepke may determine whether Abanikanda is promoted from the practice squad. It speaks volumes that Dallas prioritized re-signing him to the practice squad once he cleared waivers over former draft picks Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah.
A downhill runner with sneaky burst, Abanikanda's running style fits what Adams and Brian Schottenheimer want from the position. He impressed as a runner in training camp and the preseason.
The coaching staff liked him enough to sign him to a futures contract after last season. The fact that he's still hanging around suggests they trust him as an emergency option.
Fantasy football implications of Malik Davis injury
As Javonte Williams' handcuff, Davis was likely a popular late-round pick in fantasy drafts. If Demercado is still available, he's absolutely worth a pickup.
The Cowboys may be forced to make a trade if something were to happen to Williams because Demercado isn't built to handle 20 carries a game, but he's not going anywhere. He's locked into a significant role for the rest of the year.
If you're in a 16-team league, have an open roster, and Demercado is already rostered, Abanikanda might be worth a speculative add. If given the chance, he could make things happen in Dallas' running ecosystem.
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