A shoulder injury has kept Dallas Cowboys running back Phil Mafah sidelined for his entire rookie season so far. But with his 21-day practice window officially opening earlier this week, he still has a chance to leave a big impression.
A decision has yet to be made regarding the 2025 seventh-round pick's availability this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although if healthy, Mafah would be worth an extended look as the Cowboys turn their attention toward the future.
Phil Mafah Could Bring Clarity To Running Back Position In Weeks 16-18
Mafah, who was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday and Thursday's practices, was placed on the IR after injuring his shoulder during the final week of the preseason. He previously underwent left shoulder surgery in December 2024 after playing his senior year at Clemson with a torn labrum.
Before re-injuring his shoulder, Mafah was a preseason standout, flashing his potential in limited action while gaining 74 total yards and scoring a touchdown on 17 touches. Per Pro Football Focus data, he forced three missed tackles and gained 40 yards after contact, an average of 2.7 yards per attempt. Mafah was also a willing pass-blocker, making him a viable every-down back.
The Cowboys have a murky future at running back with leading rusher Javonte Williams, also limited in practice this week with a neck injury, playing on a one-year contract.
Williams has been excellent, rushing 230 times for 1,113 yards and 10 touchdowns. In a perfect world, Williams, 25, would return next season. But it's anyone's guess what Jerry Jones will do. With wideout George Pickens also needing an extension, the Cowboys might be forced to pick one or the other.
Mafah could make the team's decision easier if given an opportunity over the final three games. In four seasons at Clemson (2021-24), Mafah had 561 carries for 2,887 yards and 28 touchdowns. He had his best season last year as a senior, finishing with 216 carries for 1,115 yards while finding the end zone eight times.
It would be huge from a salary cap perspective if Mafah turns into a reliable backfield playmaker. Per Over The Cap, the Cowboys are currently projected to be an estimated NFL high of $47.9 million over the projected 2026 salary cap of $295.5M, which would be a 5.8% increase from 2025's $279.2M cap. As a seventh-round pick, Mafah has a $1.005M base salary in 2026 and is set to make $4.2M through the end of his rookie contract.
The savings Dallas could get from allocating fewer funds to running back would allow the front office to invest more resources in improving one of the league's worst defenses. The Cowboys are 31st in scoring defense and have allowed 31.8 points per game since Week 12.
The team would be doing itself a disservice by not figuring out what it has in Mafah. It needs all possible intel to make the best decisions for 2026 and beyond.