FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys made another move to reshape their running back room, claiming Emari Demercado off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday.
The move comes after Dallas waived running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah during the final roster cuts, leaving Malik Davis as the primary backup behind starter Javonte Williams.
Demercado, 27, brings three seasons of NFL experience to Dallas. He originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023 after playing at TCU.
During his time in Arizona, Demercado rushed for 819 yards and three touchdowns on 126 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. He also caught 50 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown.
His familiarity with Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams could help accelerate his transition. Adams coached Arizona’s offensive line during Demercado’s first two NFL seasons, giving Dallas some existing knowledge of the running back’s abilities.
Demercado also brings special teams experience and has shown the ability to contribute as a pass catcher, giving the Cowboys another versatile option behind Williams and Davis.
The Cowboys’ decision to claim Demercado also triggered a corresponding roster move: Dallas waived quarterback Joe Milton to make room for the running back on the 53-man roster.
For Demercado, the waiver claim provides a quick opportunity to return to Texas and carve out a role with a Cowboys team preparing for its regular-season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 13.
