Cowboys add a familiar face for OC Klayton Adams only one day after setting initial 53-man roster
The Dallas Cowboys quickly adjusted their RB room after cutdown day, and it’s a player Klayton Adams knows very well.
It was expected but now it’s official: The Dallas Cowboys are making an adjustment to their initial 53-man roster following Monday’s waiver wire period. In this case, it’s a reunion for Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams.
The Cowboys had until Monday at 1:00 p.m. ET to put in claims for players waived around the NFL. Waiver priority is determined by team records from the previous season, and the Cowboys put their 12th spot in the order to make some much-needed additions.
Let’s dive into the newest member of the 53-man roster.
The new Cowboys RB
After surprisingly moving on from Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah at roster cuts, the Cowboys had only three running backs on the 53-man roster. And that’s including fullback Hunter Luepke. There was an expectation of them targeting a running back in waivers for additional depth, and now they have it.
The Cowboys claimed RB Emari Demercado from the Kansas City Chiefs, per the NFL’s transaction report.
Demercado, 27, played for the Arizona Cardinals from 2023 to 2025, coinciding with Cowboys OC Klayton Adams for a couple of seasons. Back then, Adams coached the Cardinals offensive line and was known for being a part of a creative run game.
That includes Demercado’s most recent rushing touchdown, which happened in a 53-yard play in 2024.
What the Cowboys are getting in Demercado
The Cowboys get a running back with 40 games under his belt. In three seasons, he’s ran for 819 yards in 126 attempts. That averages out a 6.5 yard gain per carry. Demercado will probably be asked to play special teams as well, though he played 15% of special teams snaps in Arizona in 2025 and 12% in 2024.
Demercado is a good pass protector, which made our own Charles Goldman from A to Z Sports Kansas City to list him among players he wished the Chiefs kept on the practice squad.
“This was a little bit surprising, but so was the team’s usage of Demercado during the preseason,” wrote Goldman. “I think Demercado’s big value is pass protection, but Johnson and Smith also improved there this offseason. I wouldn’t mind if the Chiefs kept him around as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option.”
Instead, Demercado joins a group of running backs featuring Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, and Hunter Luepke (FB). Notable cuts Phil Mafah, Jaydon Blue, and Israel Abanikanda went unclaimed in waivers, meaning they’re eligible to sign to the Cowboys practice squad if there’s mutual interest.
The Cowboys shockingly waived QB Joe Milton to make room for Demercado.
