Dallas rookie Phil Mafah is headed to injured reserve with a shoulder issue as the 2025 season opens. Mafah, a seventh‑round pick from Clemson, rushed 16 yards and a TD in Dallas’s preseason finale vs. Atlanta and finished the exhibition slate with 59 yards on 15 carries. The IR/return designation signals a depth‑chart shift as the Cowboys finalize their 53‑man roster. Mafah’s college labrum injury adds context to his pro outlook and the team’s backfield plans.

Jaydon Blue envisions his NFL debut as he returns from an ankle injury, and the Cowboys are letting the rookie ramp up for a preseason showdown with the Falcons. He’s been visualizing the moment on the sideline, and with full-pads practice this week, Dallas CBT staff have grown more confident he’ll play Friday. Blue was already getting first-team reps before his injury, a sign the coaching staff believes he can contribute once healthy.

Dallas’ backfield is crowded and rotating, with Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Phil Mafah, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis handling the bulk of carries in the early games. Blue is eager to show what he can do in game action, insisting there are no limitations. His return could add another dynamic element to an already-competitive room, especially if he earns a role on early downs or as a pass-catching option in the screen game.

Overall, the plan is to evaluate his ceiling in the preseason finale while maintaining caution around workload. A productive showing could accelerate a path to meaningful snaps, but the logjam at running back will require consistent and standout play from Blue to unlock a regular-season role.

Clemson enters 2025 with rare continuity, returning the core that carried the program to ACC dominance and playoff contention. With 16 of 20 top players back, the Tigers combine an elite offense and a stingy defense, positioning them as ACC favorites and serious national-title contenders. The biggest question: running back depth after Phil Mafah’s move to Dallas. True freshman Gideon Davidson, a top-4 RB recruit in 2025, is projected to start, adding a new dynamic to a polished offense.

Oxnard’s training-camp finale underscored a 365-day, evaluation-forward mindset for the Cowboys, with roster depth and competition front and center as players push for roles before cut-down day. Zion Childress has surged to the nickel, challenging for a starting spot and signaling a potential undrafted path to Week 1 reps. Mafah impressed with a workmanlike, instinctive run style, while Blue’s ankle and Sanders’ knee adjustments shaped early opportunities for the rookie to rise. Linebacker depth has brightened, led by Liufau, James, Clark, Sanborn and Murray, giving Dallas a more versatile second level. In the secondary, injuries and ambiguity in the corner group have narrowed options, heightening urgency to identify Week 1 contributors. Tolbert’s non-stat contributions and the broader WR room remain under watch as coaches push players to prove they can lift the run game and blocking discipline. Jerry Jones and Schottenheimer stress patient evaluation as the team edges toward roster decisions.

Key risers and fallers: Childress climbed from the bottom to most nickel reps, with Hall pushing for time and Bland waiting for outside duties. Mafah’s stock rose as he ran with urgency in Oxnard, while Blue’s ankle and Sanders’ knee opened doors for Mafah to show more in practice and preseason. Linebackers Liufau, James, Clark, Sanborn and Murray rebuilt depth with physical play and schemes. The cornerback room faced more hurdles: Carson’s knee, Revel Jr.’s gradual return, and Diggs/Butler health keep four corners in flux. Mazi Smith has spoken honestly about progress; Toia flashed potential on the interior. Tolbert’s blocking and versatility keep him in the conversation as a secondary option behind Turpin and Pickens-era chatter.