The running back room for some is settled, but for Schottenheimer, the battle is still raging.
After the Dallas Cowboys' 34-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, for me, the RB2 battle has its winner, and that's Malik Davis.
Of course, I don't make the decisions, but given what Davis has produced in two preseason games, he just keeps showing up, being productive, and making plays.
With the Cowboys also having Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Israel Abanikanda trying to stake their claim to be Javonte Williams' backup, Malik has traits that all three of those mentioned do.
Not as fast as Blue, but quick enough, and as a physical runner, Davis is perhaps underrated in that area, as Mafah and Abanikanda are tough with the ball in their hands.
But there can be no denying, at least from my perspective, that Malik is the second-best back on Dallas' roster.
Still, after yet another fine performance, head coach Brian Schottenheimer refused to concede that the battle is over.
"They're making it hard on us," Schottenheimer said on the running back battle. "They just all keep doing a good job with the tasks that they're given, the roles that they're given, and seems like everyone that goes in there just does their job."
With Davis having skins on the wall already in the league, and Schottenheimer routinely speaking positively about him as a player, if we read the tea leaves right, he will be the backup.
Of course, Blue can have a role on this team, and maybe Mafah too, but if a game were played today, it's Davis who is behind Williams.
And for Schottenheimer, when reviewing the win over Arizona, one element of Davis' game stood out.
"I thought Malik Davis was incredible from a pass protection standpoint," Schottenheimer added. "Very first play of the game, they fire the free safety in the backside B gap, and he steps up and just strikes him. Then there was a nickel blitz off the edge. He's playing with a lot of confidence."
Davis can do it all, and as we know, Schottenheimer loves his backs to be good in pass pro, and Malik excelled in that area against Arizona.
So, while Schottenheimer states the battle isn't over, if it is on merit, Davis is your RB2 for 2026. Still, we may have to wait until after the third preseason game for the battle to officially be over.
Right now, for me at least, Malik is in the lead.
