The Dallas Cowboys have added running back Emari Demercado, claiming him off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs, according to the NFL's transaction wire. The move comes after Dallas cut running backs Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah on Sunday, leaving the team with just two running backs on its initial 53-man roster: Javonte Williams and Malik Davis. Demercado, 27, was placed on waivers by Kansas City during final roster cuts, as reported by Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper.

New Addition to the Cowboys' Backfield

Demercado spent the offseason and training camp with the Chiefs but has played his entire regular-season career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he appeared in 40 games from 2023 to 2025. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound back entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and signed with Arizona. Over three seasons with the Cardinals, he recorded 819 rushing yards on 126 carries and three touchdowns, while adding 50 receptions for 324 yards and another score. He left Arizona this offseason on a one-year, $1.25 million contract with Kansas City, signed in March.

The Cowboys will need to sign Demercado to their 53-man roster and release a player to accommodate him. Dallas opens its regular season on September 13 against the New York Giants.

Demercado's new team will lean on him as a change-of-pace option behind Williams, who carried 252 times for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while adding 35 catches for 137 yards and two scores. Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension in February.

com's Lance Zierlein offered a scouting assessment during the draft process, writing that Demercado is "a well-built runner who plays with good balance through contact" and "has the ability to finish with forward lean." Zierlein noted that Demercado's "vision and operation time are just average, which limits his ability to rip off chunk runs, but he does a nice job of getting what is there." He also pointed to Demercado's "kick-return experience and third-down potential" as attributes that "could give him a slight advantage" in a roster competition.

The waiver claim adds a veteran presence to a Cowboys backfield that was thin on experience behind Williams, though Malik Davis remains an option as the team finalizes its roster ahead of Week 1.

Chiefs' Depth Leads to Departure

Demercado's release from Kansas City came as the Chiefs kept rookie Emmett Johnson and second-year back Brashard Smith on the roster over the veteran. Johnson, selected in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft in April, impressed during the preseason with 26 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown. Smith, who also served as a kick return specialist, beat out Demercado for the third running back spot.

The Chiefs' running back room is led by starter Kenneth Walker III, with Johnson and Smith as backups. Kansas City signed Walker to a three-year, $43.05 million contract during the offseason.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised Demercado's pass protection during training camp, saying, "I like the pass protection. He's not going to bounce anything; he sees it, he lowers it, and he hits it in the run game; I think that's important."

Demercado acknowledged the competitive environment in Kansas City, telling reporters, "I mean, obviously we always talk about pass protection, so that's been my thing. But, as far as the (RB) room, that's what you want. You want to compete. That brings out the best of everybody in the room."

Reid acknowledged after the Chiefs' preseason finale against Seattle that difficult roster decisions were ahead for several players who had performed well in camp, and Demercado ultimately became one of the casualties.

The Chiefs have signed running back Nate Carter to their practice squad, according to a report from Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. Carter entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025 with the Atlanta Falcons, made their 53-man roster, and played seven games with 60 rushing yards on nine carries. He played college football at UConn from 2020 to 2022 and at Michigan State from 2023 to 2024.

Outlook

Demercado's time in Arizona included a notable incident in 2025 when he fumbled before the goal line in a Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. Then-Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon got in Demercado's face and made contact on the sideline, later being fined $100,000 by the team. Demercado reflected on the episode, saying, "I can't expect myself to be perfect. I put who I am back on tape. You make one mistake and the whole world kind of flames you for it."

With the Cowboys, Demercado will look to provide reliable depth and pass protection as the team prepares for its season opener against the Giants.