Cowboys weigh IR-return options four weeks in; Caelen Carson, Phil Mafah, Jonathan Mingo, and Payton Turner are eligible to begin the 21‑day practice window, with activation possible at any point. Shavon Revel Jr. is also cleared to be activated from the Non‑Football Injury list after ACL rehab.

Lamb and Booker aren’t slated for IR but their availability remains uncertain after high ankle sprains. With Malik Hooker sidelined, Juanyeh Thomas is primed for expanded safety duties as Dallas eyes a Week 5 clash with the Jets. Guyton and Miles Sanders could return to face New York, while Revel’s knee remains a watch item.

Team decision timelines will shape which players step in, and fantasy managers should monitor practice reports for concrete activation news and snap expectations before Game Day.

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.