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.