The Cowboys Just Made Their Boldest Move Yet — Cutting a $1.03M Running Back to Prove Nobody’s Safe in Dallas.QQ
The Cowboys released running back Malik Davis after carrying him on the roster for the past three seasons.
Sep 24, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detail view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY SportsThe surprise move was headlined shortly after owner Jerry Jones acquired lineman Logan Wilson from the Bengals and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets.
Cowboys Cut Malik Davis After Signing Logan Wilson
He had been promoted from the practice squad before the Week 9 game against Arizona Cardinals, where he played only a few snaps and recorded one three-yard run. That limited workload marked the end of his fourth season with Jones’s team.
The NFL rulebook permits teams to elevate a practice squad player only three times per season. The Cowboys have already used all three chances for Davis, meaning they would need to sign him to the 53-man roster to bring him back.
Instead, they traded a 2026 seventh-round pick to Cincinnati for linebacker Wilson, whose playing time had dropped despite serving as a team captain in Zac Taylor’s team. The trade was in no way less than some PR drama.
The 82-year-old franchise owner constantly shared that they had completed one trade for defense but didn’t announce any names. A few hours after the deadline, they officially announced Wilson was headed to Dallas.
However, Davis will now go through waivers, where any team can claim him. If he clears, the front office can re-sign him to their practice squad.
With only Javonte Williams and rookie Jaydon Blue active at running back, Dallas is short at the position but apparently didn’t see enough from Davis to keep him on the main roster.
