Bears Trade Gervon Dexter Sr. for Clark Phillips III and 2027 Fifth-Round Pick

Q: With Dallas unexpectedly cutting its rookie running backs, who will emerge to protect their fragile backfield?

Malik Davis looks like the most likely answer, at least for now. With Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Israel Abanikanda all cut, Dallas enters the season with Javonte Williams as its clear lead back and Davis as the only obvious traditional backup on the 53-man roster. The evidence points strongly that way. Multiple reports said Davis won the RB2 competition late in camp, even after Blue had been listed high on the unofficial depth chart and showed some preseason juice. Davis also has the trust factor the Cowboys seem to value: he has been in Dallas for years, averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season, handled meaningful snaps behind Williams, and offers more reliability in pass protection and special teams than the younger backs. That does not mean the issue is solved. The current room is thin, with Williams, Davis and fullback Hunter Luepke as the only backfield options on the active roster. Given Williams’ injury history and heavy workload, Dallas is widely expected to reinforce the position through practice-squad elevations, waiver claims or a veteran free-agent addition. Blue still could factor back into the picture if he clears waivers and returns to the practice squad, and Mafah may be another stash candidate. But as of cutdown day, the player who has emerged to protect Dallas’ fragile backfield is Davis, while the front office likely keeps searching for more insurance.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Aug 31

Chicago sent defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. to Atlanta for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick in one of the most surprising moves before final NFL roster cuts.
The deal stands out because Dexter was one of the Bears' few productive pass rushers, finishing 2025 second on the team in both sacks and pressure rate behind Montez Sweat.
Chicago appears willing to absorb that loss because Dexter is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the team reportedly has big plans for rookie lineman Jordan van den Berg.
Atlanta lands an ascending defensive tackle, while the trade underscores how deadline-day roster decisions can reshape contenders' biggest weaknesses just before the season opens.