The Cowboys’ running back room keeps taking hits, and the latest injury could force Dallas to look outside the building.
Tyler Goodson is expected to miss multiple weeks with a knee injury, leaving the Cowboys thin behind Javonte Williams. Before the 2026 season even kicked off, Dallas already lost Malik Davis to a season-ending hip injury. Now the team is down to Israel Abanikanda this week, with Kendre Miller also added to the practice squad.
That’s a shaky setup, and it’s why Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton connected Dallas to a familiar name in free agency: former Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris.
“Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones expects backup running back Tyler Goodson to miss time with a knee injury,” Moton said.
“The Cowboys signed Kendre Miller to their practice squad, but he has a history of injuries. Harris could be a solid complement to Javonte Williams in the Cowboys' ground game.
Harris spent 2026 with the New York Giants, appearing in five games before being cut after complaining about how the team handled its backfield touches.
“It’s hard to get into a rhythm with one or two plays,” Harris said to reporters in October. “If you’re getting a play here and then get taken out for a series, there’s nothing you could do. I’ve never been through none of this before.”
His production in New York was modest. Harris averaged 3.2 yards per carry, though he did have one bright spot when he ran for 52 yards on nine carries, a 5.8-yard average.
That game offered at least a reminder that there’s still something left after the torn Achilles he suffered in 2025.
Early in his career, Harris was a workhorse for the Pittsburgh Steelers, piling up four 1,000-yard seasons and earning one Pro Bowl selection over his first four years.
Since then, the momentum has faded. The Achilles injury slowed him down, and his stint with the Giants didn’t do much to change the picture.
Still, Harris brings traits Dallas could use. He’s not a burst-heavy, change-of-pace runner, but he can handle work between the tackles and help in the passing game, both as a receiver and in pass protection.
More than anything, he’d give the Cowboys a steadier option than what they currently have on hand.
For now, Dallas may wait and see how long Goodson is out. If it’s just a game or two, the team could stay put. If the injury drags on longer, Harris could become a realistic answer.
In Other News...
Cowboys Got One More Lifeline In The NFC East Race
Washingtons win over the Giants kept the NFC East picture from getting any cleaner, and that matters for Dallas. The division still has a long way to settle itself, with the Giants sitting at 5-3-1, the Cowboys at 4-5 and the Commanders at 3-5-1, which means the race remains messy enough for a team that has spent much of the season playing catch-up.
For the Cowboys, the path forward is still about staying alive long enough for the schedule to give them a chance. The remaining games for Dallas, New York and Washington will go a long way toward deciding whether the division title is still in play or whether the focus shifts more squarely to the playoff picture, and every result from here carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Just Got A Real NFC East Opening
The NFC East picture tightened a bit after Washington handled the Giants, and Dallas suddenly has a little more room to breathe in a division race that had been tilting away from it. The result narrowed the Cowboys gap in the standings and also showed up in the betting market, where their path to the division title got a noticeable boost while New Yorks outlook slipped.
For a Cowboys team getting ready to face the 49ers in Week 10, the timing matters. Dallas still has a stretch ahead that includes three straight home games and more divisional chances, which keeps the door open if it can take care of business and keep the pressure on the teams above it. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Get A Live Test Of Two Recent Trade Decisions
The Cowboys will get a fresh look at two trade decisions when they meet the 49ers in Week 10, with each side carrying a piece of the others roster history into the matchup. Dallas sent Osa Odighizuwa to San Francisco in March 2025, while later bringing in linebacker Dee Winters through the 2026 NFL Draft, giving this game a built-in layer of evaluation beyond the usual NFC measuring stick.
Odighizuwa has brought pass-rush value but has also had issues holding up against the run, which makes him worth watching against a Cowboys offense that will want to know what kind of impact he can still make. Winters, meanwhile, has had a mixed start of his own, and this matchup offers Dallas a live test of whether the move made sense on both sides of the ball, even if the fuller answer may not come until after the game. [Read more 🡒]