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Jalen Tolbert Jalen Tolbert Falls down depth chart in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:25 PM
Tolbert caught 18 of 34 targets for 203 yards and a touchdown over 13 games in 2025.
Analysis: After a career-best campaign in 2024, Tolbert headed into the season third on the depth chart at wide receiver for the Cowboys behind CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The 2022 third-round pick fell out of favor after the first month of the season, however, and he was passed in the pecking order for snaps and targets by Ryan Flournoy. Tolbert is a free agent this offseason, and even with Pickens not guaranteed to return, it seems unlikely he'll be re-signed by Dallas. |
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Hunter Luepke Hunter Luepke Small but steady role in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 1:20 PM
Luepke carried the ball 16 times for 71 yards and caught 13 of 15 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown over 17 games in 2025.
Analysis: The fullback has missed only one game in three seasons with the Cowboys, and Luepke set a new career high with his 180 scrimmage yards while scoring his second career TD. He split his time nearly equally between the offense and special teams in 2025, playing 250 offensive snaps and 241 on kick return squads, and he should fill a similar role next season in the first year of a two-year, $7 million contract extension. |
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Phil Mafah Phil Mafah Scores in pro debut
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 11:11 AM
Mafah appeared in one game for the Cowboys in 2025, carrying the ball five times for 18 yards and a touchdown while catching both his targets for 11 yards.
Analysis: The 2025 seventh-round pick spent most of his rookie season on IR due to a shoulder injury, but Dallas activated him ahead of a Week 18 clash with the Giants and Mafah scored from the one-yard line in his NFL debut. With Javonte Williams headed for free agency, the Cowboys' backfield is unsettled to begin the offseason, and Mafah could find himself in a short-yardage-specialist role to begin 2026 if the team isn't able to find a bell cow to head the backfield. |
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Joe Milton Joe Milton Limited action in 2025
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 11:06 AM
Milton appeared in four games for the Cowboys in 2025, completing 15 of 24 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He added 50 rushing yards on five carries and lost a fumble.
Analysis: The second-year quarterback saw his most extensive action in Week 18, but Milton didn't make a single start as Dak Prescott stayed healthy for the entire season. Milton's athletic upside remains intriguing, but he's still very raw as a passer and is stuck behind the highest-paid QB in the entire NFL, giving him little fantasy appeal heading into next season other than as an insurance policy for Prescott. |
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Israel Abanikanda Israel Abanikanda Inks reserve/future deal with DAL
Tue, Jan 6, 2026, 4:56 PM
Dallas signed Abanikanda to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Abanikanda signed with the Cowboys' practice squad in November after he spent training camp and the preseason with Green Bay. A fifth-round pick by the Jets in 2023, Abanikanda hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since that rookie season. |
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Parris Campbell Parris Campbell Staying in Dallas
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:03 PM
The Cowboys signed Campbell to a reserve/future contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Campbell was sidelined to open the season after reaching an injury settlement with Dallas in August due to an MCL sprain that he suffered in late July. The wide receiver then joined the Cowboys' practice squad Sept. 30, appearing in the team's Week 6 loss to the Panthers, failing to record any stats while playing two snaps on offense, but he did add a tackle over six snaps with the special-teams unit. Campbell will now have the opportunity to participate in the Cowboys' offseason activities, looking to compete for a reserve spot at wideout with the team in 2026. |
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Ryan Flournoy Ryan Flournoy Five catches in defeat
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 11:10 PM
Flournoy caught five of seven targets for 68 yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Flournoy was able to pace the team in catches and receiving yards as Dallas opted to rest starters CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, amongst others, after the early moments of the contest. Flournoy has now finished his second season in Dallas, reeling in 40 of 56 targets for 475 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 25 yards on four carries over 16 regular-season contests. With Pickens potentially set to become a free agent this offseason, Flournoy could step into a more substantial role next season behind Lamb in the Cowboys' offense. |
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Jake Ferguson Jake Ferguson One catch in season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 11:01 PM
Ferguson caught one of two targets for five yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Ferguson was able to play in Week 18 after opening the week limited at practice with a calf issue, but was limited to just one catch for the second straight week. The tight end sputtered into the finish line this season, failing to reach 20 receiving yards in each of his final four contests. Ferguson has now completed his fourth campaign in Dallas having reeled in a career-high 82 passes on 102 targets for 600 yards and eight touchdowns over 17 regular-season contests, and he'll likely enter next year as the team's undisputed No. 1 tight end. |
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Jaydon Blue Jaydon Blue Caps poor rookie year on high note
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:16 PM
Blue rushed 16 times for 64 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in the passing game during Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants.
Analysis: Blue spent most of his rookie season as a healthy inactive, but he took on the lead-back role in the regular-season finale as the Cowboys played without Javonte Williams (shoulder) and Malik Davis (eye/calf). Blue made the most of his opportunity, scoring his first NFL touchdown on a 14-yard run in the first quarter. The 2025 fifth-round pick will try to carve out a larger role in his second NFL campaign after dressing for only five games as a rookie. Blue had 38 carries for 129 yards and one touchdown while catching his only target for five yards across those five appearances. |
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CeeDee Lamb CeeDee Lamb Fewest yards since 2020
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:15 PM
Lamb caught his only target for four yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants. He finishes the 2025 season with 75 catches for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns on 117 targets.
Analysis: Lamb posted the lowest touchdown total of his career and his fewest receiving yards since his 935-yard rookie regular season in 2020, as he was overshadowed by George Pickens' 93-1,423-9 receiving line in Dallas' receiving corps. The 26-year-old Lamb's 14 games played in 2025 were also a career low. Lamb is locked in with Dallas, having signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August of 2024, while Pickens is expected to re-sign with the team in the offseason. Despite boasting one of the league's best wide receiver duos, the Cowboys missed the playoffs with a 7-9-1 record. |
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George Pickens George Pickens Finishes with 1,423 yards, nine TDs
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:13 PM
Pickens caught one of three targets for nine yards in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants. He finishes the 2025 season with 93 catches for 1,423 yards and nine touchdowns on 137 targets.
Analysis: Pickens didn't add much to his career high totals in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns before the Cowboys took out their key offensive starters at halftime. The 24-year-old wide receiver is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, though the Cowboys are expected to retain Pickens, either through an extension or with the franchise tag. Pickens posted the best season of his career after being acquired from the Steelers in an offseason trade, but Dallas failed to reach the playoffs with a 7-9-1 record. |
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Dak Prescott Dak Prescott Throws for 4,552 yards in 2025
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 4:11 PM
Prescott completed seven of 11 passes for 70 yards and rushed twice for minus-1 yard, in addition to losing a fumble, in Sunday's 34-17 loss to the Giants. He finishes the 2025 season with 4,552 passing yards and a 30:10 TD:INT.
Analysis: Prescott came into the regular-season finale with the most passing yards, completions and pass attempts in the NFL. With the Cowboys eliminated from playoff contention, he didn't add much to those totals before being replaced by backup Joe Milton at halftime. Prescott is set to carry a cap hit slightly north of $74 million in 2026, but the Cowboys have little choice but to stick with the 32-year-old quarterback despite the team's lack of playoff success. |
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Phil Mafah Phil Mafah Active Sunday, set for pro debut
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:57 AM
Mafah (shoulder) is listed as active Sunday at the Giants.
Analysis: In the wake of the Cowboys ruling out Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) for Week 18 on Friday and subsequently placing both on injured reserve one day later, Mafah, who was activated from IR on Saturday, will be in the mix for touches out of the backfield Sunday behind Jaydon Blue and FB Hunter Luepke. A seventh-round rookie, Mafah thus is in line for the first game action of his pro career, though Blue and Luepke are the likeliest candidates to earn snaps among the trio. |
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Phil Mafah Phil Mafah Activated off IR
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 12:11 PM
Mafah (shoulder) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Analysis: Mafah upgraded to full participation in practice Friday after being limited to start the week. Though he is still questionable, the 23-year-old could be an important depth option versus the Giants, as the Cowboys are without their top two running backs, Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye), leaving Jaydon Blue as the sole healthy option in Week 18. If Mafah does play, the 2025 seventh-round pick would be making his career debut. |
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Malik Davis Malik Davis Lands on IR
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 11:50 AM
The Cowboys placed Davis (eye/calf) on injured reserve Saturday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Davis was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants due to eye and calf injuries that he sustained against the Commanders on Christmas Day. Both Davis and Javonte Williams (shoulder) were placed on injured reserve, which corresponded with the Cowboys activating Josh Butler (knee) from the reserve/PUP list and Phil Mafah (shoulder) from injured reserve. Davis will finish the 2025 season with 52 carries for 250 yards and two touchdowns along with two catches (on five targets) for 16 yards. |
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Javonte Williams Javonte Williams Placed on injured reserve
Sat, Jan 3, 2026, 11:46 AM
The Cowboys placed Williams (shoulder) on injured reserve Saturday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Williams was already ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Giants due to a lingering shoulder injury, but his placement on injured reserve opens up a spot on Dallas' 53-man roster for the activation of Phil Mafah (shoulder) from IR. With Williams and Malik Davis (eye/calf) both out, Mafah and rookie Jaydon Blue are set to lead the Cowboys' backfield for Week 18. Williams enjoyed a career year in Dallas and will end the 2025 season with 252 carries for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 35 catches (on 51 targets) for 137 yards and two scores across 16 games. Williams signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Cowboys in March and will enter the 2026 offseason as a free agent. |
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Jaydon Blue Jaydon Blue In line to lead backfield
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 5:01 PM
Blue is set to lead the Cowboys backfield Sunday at the Giants with Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) ruled out for the contest, Joseph Hoyt of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Analysis: A rookie fifth-round pick, Blue has previously seen action for the Cowboys from Weeks 5 through 8, when he combined for 22 carries for 65 yards and one catch (on one target) for five yards. Assuming he leads the backfield Week 18, his competition for reps will be fullback Hunter Luepke and potentially 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah (shoulder), the latter of whom must be activated from injured reserve Saturday in order to play Sunday. |
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Phil Mafah Phil Mafah Questionable for Sunday, still on IR
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:39 PM
Mafah (shoulder), who remains on injured reserve, is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The Cowboys ruled out top two RBs Javonte Williams (shoulder/neck) and Malik Davis (calf/eye) for Week 18 on Friday, leaving Jaydon Blue as the only healthy option at the position on the active roster. If Mafah is activated from IR on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday's matchup, he'll at least be available to Dallas' backfield. A 2025 seventh-round pick, Mafah spent the entire regular season through Week 17 on injured reserve and thus is awaiting his first snaps as a pro. |
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Jake Ferguson Jake Ferguson Cleared to play
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:37 PM
Ferguson (calf) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ferguson didn't finish last week's game but will be available for the season finale after upgrading to full practice participation Friday. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones noted that the team could remove key veterans at some point Sunday, but there hasn't been any hint of that from the coaching staff. |
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Malik Davis Malik Davis Out for Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:32 PM
Davis (eye/calf) and Javonte Williams (neck/shoulder) have been ruled out for Sunday's game at the Giants, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Davis reportedly still can't see well after taking a blow to the eye during last week's win over Washington. He finished the game with 20 carries for 103 yards, both career highs, arguably making him the favorite for the No. 2 RB role in Dallas next year. Williams is scheduled for free agency, but the Cowboys likely will re-sign him or pursue a replacement. The 27-year-old Davis has some parallels to Rico Dowdle, who also lingered around the Dallas roster and practice squad for years before getting his shot as the No. 2 RB, which he later parlayed into a starting job. |
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