Christmas may have come and gone, but there will be one present left for fans this season when they turn on their televisions tomorrow to watch the season finale—it’s Phil Mafah time.
Ahead of the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 18 matchup with the New York Giants, the Cowboys decided to send their top two running backs, Javonte Williams and Malik Davis, to injured reserve. They also added starting left guard T.J. Bass to the IR.
With three roster spots open, Dallas decided to activate Mafah, cornerback Josh Butler, and rookie linebacker Justin Barron. They will also be elevating offensive lineman Nick Leverett from the practice squad. Fans have been wanting to see Mafah all season after he showed promise in the preseason. A shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve in the first place, but the team will be able to get a glimpse of what their rookie running back has before next season.
Sunday’s matchup against the Giants should feature a lot of Hunter Luepke, Jaydon Blue, and Mafah in some form of a rotation. Now that the season is over for Williams and Davis, both backs will be looking towards 2026 as they enter free agency. Dallas could retain one or even both running backs, but the asking price could play a role in their potential return to the Cowboys.
Butler’s return to the lineup at cornerback provides the Dallas team with much-needed depth, which has been lacking all season. Before tearing his ACL in 2024, Butler was having a career year at the pro level with 21 tackles, one sack, and five pass breakups.
Even with limited playing time, Butler, Caelen Carson, and Reddy Steward are expected to see plenty of action on Sunday in the absence of Trevon Diggs. The cornerback position, along with edge rusher, should be prioritized by Dallas in both free agency and the draft. A strong performance from Butler and his team in the season finale could carve out a role for him on defense next season.