The Dallas Cowboys have been reaping the benefits of DeMarco Murray's career-high year all season. The running back is a major reason why the team is looking poised for the postseason with two games left to play. However, it is looking very uncertain that Murray will be available for those final two games after suffering a broken hand against the Philadelphia Eagles. As the team prepares to face the Indianapolis Colts, Jerry Jones is not ruling him out just yet.
According to the team, Murray underwent surgery on Monday to repair a broken bone in his left hand. The running back suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter, but told reporters after the game that he was fine. Now, his status is in doubt for Week 16, but maybe not as in doubt as some would assume.
"I don't think we'd have to see him practice. I think it's more a question of the condition of the hand at game time and what we can do to protect it," Jones said, via 105.3 The Fan. "I think it's one of those that you'd like to wait and see how he's feeling just right before the game."
Fantasy owners who were lucky enough to make the playoffs will likely be monitoring the injury report in the coming days. If Murray is unable to play, the Cowboys will be relying on the rotation of Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle to get the job done and a strong Colts' defense. Neither running back has the resume of Murray. Randle has 237 yards on 34 carries this season while Dunbar has 91 yards on 26 carries. Head coach Jason Garrett has confidence in both backs.
"We have a lot of confidence in those guys," Garrett said, via ESPN.com. "Obviously we like to give them opportunities in games to spell DeMarco and just to give those guys a shot. I thought last night was a good example of how those guys consistently take advantage of those opportunities. Joseph got a couple of carries and was productive with his. I felt Lance did a really nice job in that game, at the end of the game handling the football and just doing some good things and making some good runs. They weren't splashy runs but they were real positive runs in critical moments of that ballgame."
Losing Murray for even a game could mean a number of things. The Dallas Cowboys are trying to remain on top of the NFC East in order to get to the postseason and host a playoff game. The Philadelphia Eagles are hot on their tail. Missing a game would also end Murray's pursuit of Emmitt Smith's single-season team rushing record. Murray needs 87 yards in the final two games to break it. Most running backs who suffered that injury missed at least one game, but Jones will do everything in his power to have Murray available.
