Dallas Cowboys release a flurry of injury updates before Week 16, and the timing hints at a deeper story unfolding behind the scenes.QQ
The Cowboys are opening the practice windows for multiple players.
The Dallas Cowboys are making multiple transactions on Wednesday leading up to Week 16 on the injury front.
With only three weeks remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Cowboys announced they’re opening three players’ practice windows ahead of the team’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the move doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll play before the season is over.
Why it doesn’t mean they’ll play
The Cowboys are opening the 21-day practice windows for cornerback Josh Butler, seventh-round rookie running back Phil Mafah, and defensive end Payton Turner.
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Per NFL rules, this allows them to take the practice field even while remaining on Injured Reserve. But the mere fact that they’re practicing doesn’t necessarily foreshadow an activation to the 53-man roster. After all, these moves gives players a three-week practice opportunity, which fits with the three remaining weeks of the regular season anyway. In other words, opening their practice windows costs Dallas nothing as the season will be over in a few weeks.
And according to Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, this is more about getting them on the practice field.
“Just a chance to get them on the grass and see these guys compete a little bit,” Schottenheimer told reporters Wednesday. “Wearing pads today, which should be great. I know those guys are really, really excited to get back out there and play the game that they love.”
In fact, the Cowboys can only designate two more players to return from Injured Reserve, so even if they wanted, they can’t activate the three returning players.
Rookie RB Phi Mafah among those activated for practice
Among those three players returning to practice, the one who might intrigue fans the most is rookie RB Phil Mafah. The former Clemson Tiger had a strong preseason but was an IR stash for the team. With Javonte Williams banged up and on the injury report along with fullback Hunter Luepke missing practice (concussion), I wonder if Mafah gets a shot.
If he does, it would be an indictment on Jaydon Blue, the fifth-round rookie who has remained a healthy scratch for the majority of the season. For now, however, this means the players are back on practice and nothing more. The Cowboys need to make a decision by Saturday if they want to activate any of these players for Sunday’s game.
