The Dallas Cowboys hoped for many things in their opening preseason contest in Seattle. First and foremost, they wanted to escape the Pacific Northwest without any major injuries. While some of their other goals have been accomplished, they did not escape unscathed.
One of the team's only question marks on offense is who is going to be the primary backup to running back Javonte Williams. Two second-year backs are leading the charge, but Dallas is going to have to hold their breath after one of them came up injured. 2025 seventh-round pick Phil Mafah left the game in the second half and has been ruled out from returning with a chest injury.
UPDATE: Phil Mafah (chest) has been ruled OUT by the #Cowboys. https://t.co/5npKB5RAaP
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 16, 2026
The Clemson alum presents a much different style of ball than his counterpart Jaydon Blue. While Blue has the inside track to be the change of pace back with his raw speed and acceleration, Mafah is a powerful back who also flashes some speed. He may be more in line to be a backup in case of injury, but now he's injured himself.
Dallas also has Malik Davis and Israel Abinakanda in the rotation if Mafah is going to miss any significant amount of time.
Mafah spent most of his 2025 season on the injured list, only getting snaps at the end of the regular season after the Cowboys had been eliminated from the playoff hunt.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Injury Update: Cowboys RB ruled out for rest of game with chest injury