Phil

Mafah

Reporters noticed Williams was not participating in organized team activities last week. The Cowboys hosted their three-day mandatory minicamp this week, and it sounds like Williams was either limited or held out again today. Schottenheimer was asked whether this was due to Williams’ shoulder injury from last season or simply veteran maintenance. Fortunately, Schottenheimer said Williams is “in a great spot” and “looks great.” His absence was “more about getting the young guys some reps in this last full-speed practice.” It seems like the Cowboys are hoping that one of Blue or Mafah can step up and be a reliable backup. If one separates from the other, he will be a worthwhile late-round pick.

Cowboys starting RB Javonte Williams was absent. Archer notes that fellow backups, RB Jaydon Blue and RB Malik Davis, also got some work. After backup RB Miles Sanders suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4 last season, Davis and Blue respectively served as the Cowboys’ RB2 and RB3. Mafah was limited to just 10 offensive snaps all season. It appears as though he is getting the chance to work his way up the depth chart behind Williams this summer.

This was the first NFL action for the seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was used as a physical complement to fellow rookie Jaydon Blue and also added two catches for 11 yards. The 23-year-old will likely have to battle in training camp to keep his spot on the roster next season.

Davis was active as the backup to Javonte Williams in Week 9 over rookie Jaydon Blue and saw just one carry for three yards. He has played in three games this season, totaling three carries for six yards. The Cowboys jettisoning Davis either indicates rookie seventh-rounder Phil Mafah (shoulder) is nearing a return from injured reserve or a renewed confidence in Blue. Either way, Williams will continues to dominate backfield touches for the Cowboys. Davis is also a candidate to return via practice squad.

He’ll miss at least the first four weeks. This gives Dallas a little runway to see if Jaydon Blue or Miles Sanders can establish a true pecking order behind Javonte Williams. Mafah, Dallas’ seventh-round pick this year, ran hard in the preseason and has a chance to be a factor later in the year.

The rookie seventh-rounder has given the Cowboys a tough choice as far as roster cutdowns are concerned. Mafah only had 16 yards on his two carries, but his longest run came on a powerful burst up the middle that saw him run break multiple tackles to get down to the Falcons’ two-yard line. He would eventually score on a one-yard plunge. Mafah played with the backups to close out the game, but he has generated plenty of buzz for his work in camp and in the preseason.

“Schottenheimer wants to see how things unfold during offseason workouts and training camp,” Yousuf continues. It certainly seems to be a situation where Jaydon Blue could carve out a role in a hurry. “If Blue proves himself, he’ll have the chance to carve out a significant role,” Yousuf writes. Certainly nothing we saw from Javonte Williams or Miles Sanders in recent years would lead us to believe that they’ll be blocking Blue if he shows out in training camp.

Mafah (6’1/234) is one of the bigger backs in this year’s class. The former Clemson Tiger joins the pro ranks after four collegiate seasons, and led the team in rushing in each of his final two years, and leaves school with a career rushing line of 561-2,887-28. Despite his imposing size, Mafah is little more than an average back when it comes to creating yards after contact and breaking tackles. In his final season, he forced a missed tackle on just 16.3 percent of his carries, although that could be partially blamed on a shoulder injury he suffered late in the year. He’s more of an early-down, between-the-tackles grinder than a back who will excel on runs to the outside, and he never caught more than 21 passes in a season. Mafah’s single-season receiving yardage total tops out at 108 yards. His best chance at NFL success will be in an early-down role, but special teams will likely also be a factor. With only 117 special teams snaps on his resumé and only one of them coming on kick coverage, Mafah could face an uphill battle to make a 53-man roster if he doesn’t stand out amongst his backfield competition in camp.

Mafah (6'1/215) got plenty of work this spring, as both starter Will Shipley (leg) and Kobe Pace (toe) were limited in returning from nagging injuries. Spiller indicated that Mafah arrived in camp with a heightened level of maturity after rushing 68 times for 292 yards, 4.3 YPC and three touchdowns, while reeling in seven-of-eight passes for 50 yards last year for the Tigers. Spiller said he’s comfortable putting any of the top three backs on the field and that Mafah might be the best receiving back on the roster. He has the potential to carve out a timeshare with Shipley and would likely be the top back should anything happen to the starter.

Mafah (6'1/215) did not appear in any of Clemson’s first four games, but the combination of injuries and Lyn-J Dixon’s transfer freed up reps for the freshman. Mafah, who has rushed for 171 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, was dressed out and going through warmups ahead of Saturday’s game. He’ll backup classmate Will Shipley at running back.