Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Darren McFadden’s Injury Means Cowboys Need To Sign One Of These Running Backs Soon
The Dallas Cowboys’ running game for the 2015 season is already looking like it’s in trouble by some. Not only did they allow DeMarco Murray to walk away, but they failed to make a trade for Adrian Peterson and only brought in Darren McFadden. OTAs have just started and, already, McFadden has suffered an injury — and that means the Cowboys need to bring in another running back now.
Yes, it’s only OTAs, and there are still a few months until the season begins, but this is something to be concerned about. Training camp begins in less than two months, and it’s important that the Cowboys have reliable talent in the offensive backfield.
ESPN did report that McFadden suffered a hamstring strain and sat off to the side during a number of team drills in OTAs this past week. Trainers were working on his hamstring and he was doing rehab during practice.
Darren McFadden does individual work during team drills. #Cowboys pic.twitter.com/m1wLLSwspv
— Edward Egros (@EdwardEgrosFox4) June 3, 2015
While it may not seem like a big issue, hamstring injuries are something that Darren McFadden has dealt with for years, and they tend to linger. Cowboys coaches won’t make a big deal out of it right now, but the brass had better start looking at some free agent running backs.
Once McFadden started dealing with the injury and with Ryan Williams out with a sore knee, Joseph Randle took the first-team reps with the team on Wednesday. Lance Dunbar is also on the roster, and Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones thinks things are good.
“Obviously the running back situation is something we’re going to keep our eyes on, but we’re comfortable. I think out there today watching some of the guys, they look good. I think they can get the job done.”
If he truly thought this running-back-by-committee unit could get the job done, then many NFL experts are wondering why the Cowboys had Ben Tate and Felix Jones in for workouts in the past few weeks. Dallas is keeping their options open, but it may be time they bring in someone else before it’s too late.
As other NFL teams go through OTAs and get closer to training camp, injuries are going to happen. That means they will have to sign some of the free agents out there, and all the good ones could be scooped up.
Steven Jackson, Pierre Thomas, and Chris Johnson are three other free agent running backs that the Dallas Cowboys could sign. Ray Rice is also another viable option, but he obviously comes with baggage. If OTAs are any indication, though, Darren McFadden is still dealing with a career-long hamstring injury, and Dallas may not want to wait too much longer for insurance.
[Image via Matthew Emmons — USA Today Sports]
