The Dallas Cowboys are deep in training camp and one face has yet to be seen. With the focus on the run game following the departure of DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles, one important name remains on the sideline with practice underway while another gets taken down with an injury. Darren McFadden remains on the physically unable to perform list while Lance Dunbar suffered an ankle injury. Will that lead to the Cowboys trying to sign a free agent for help?
The Cowboys are thin in the backfield. The team released Ryan Williams following a knee surgery which means they really cannot afford other injuries. However, Dunbar added to the frustrations after leaving practice early with an ankle injury that may or may not be severe. That is paired with the absence of McFadden, the running back who is supposed to replace Murray following two failed stints with the Oakland Raiders. He is not concerned about not being on the field just yet.
"I did a little straight-line running and a little cutting, so I got a good feel for it," McFadden said, via the Dallas Morning News. "It's one of those things where the trainers want to make sure I can put a couple of days back to back before they throw me back out there. I'm just looking forward to getting back out there on the field. No soreness or swelling the next day, so definitely a good sign for me."
With McFadden and Dunbar out, the run game is the Joseph Randle show for the Cowboys and quarterback Tony Romo is loving it. Romo had a good season last year thanks to the Cowboys' ability to remain balanced on offense. He certainly wants that again and remains hopeful that Randle is the back that can keep the team moving forward.
"At the same time, it's an opportunity for some of these other guys to step in and take a role that's obviously coveted, and I think so far through training camp it's gone pretty well. These guys have stepped up and shown some flashes that we're pretty excited about. Now they got to take it and run with it and we'll find out through training camp and preseason how good they really are. You got to give the opportunity to see," Romo said, via the Dallas Morning News.
The Cowboys could feel the pressure to add a back to the roster, something they have been predicted to do since the Adrian Peterson rumors. A deal for Ray Rice seems unrealistic despite his talents, but Pierre Thomas, Steven Jackson and Ben Tate could all be quality pickups to at least help with camp depth.