The Dallas Cowboys once again have running back issues. The team's ground game is certainly nowhere near where it was last season with DeMarco Murray and injuries are not helping the team out. With Lance Dunbar out for the season and Joseph Randle sitting in the coach's dog house, could a free agent signing be in the works?
Dunbar was officially ruled out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL following the New Orleans Saints game. That leaves the Cowboys without their top scorer while Dez Bryant and Tony Romo remain injured. Randle is also not off to a good start this season despite looking like the leading rusher for the team. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys are not happy with Randle's leaping habit in the end zone. Coaches were not happy that Randle continues to stick the ball out over the goal line while jumping over piles as it could lead to turnovers. He had the ball swatted away from him and while it was ruled a touchdown still, head coach Jason Garrett was not thrilled.
According to DallasNews.com, the Cowboys will begin discussing free agent options. Right now, the team is going to see what they have in Christine Michael before making a call on adding to the roster. The former Seattle Seahawk could be what the Cowboys need to balance the run game back out, but they will not know for sure until he gets playing time. Garrett told the media that they are first going to look in-house to replace Dunbar before searching elsewhere.
"I think we're always evaluating,'' Garrett said, via DallasNews.com. "It will happen naturally with Lance being out. We'll look at it in practice and games, and we'll look at what we're asking guys to do. Lance was a weapon for us and we tried to use him as a weapon in a lot of different ways to impact our offense and impact the game. To say we have someone in house who is going to do those same kinds of things, I don't know that we have somebody like that."
The free agent market certainly has talent for Dallas to look at. Montee Ball might be the best available after his release from the Denver Broncos. Trent Richardson was just in Buffalo getting a workout. Pierre Thomas is healthy and ready to play along with Ben Tate and Steven Jackson. The Cowboys are not getting Romo back until Thanksgiving and Bryant until after the team's bye week. They need some playmakers and a roster addition would not be the worst thing for the team.
