When the Dallas Cowboys took the field in their first preseason game, all eyes were on the running back position. Much has been made about the team's ground game after they let leading rusher DeMarco Murray depart to the Philadelphia Eagles. They replaced him with a less-impressive Darren McFadden while hoping that Joseph Randle could step up as the leading rusher. Gus Johnson and Lance Dunbar join them and now everyone is dealing with injuries.
McFadden has yet to be seen on the field in training camp as the running back deals with a hamstring injury. According to the Dallas Morning News, McFadden could be back on the field come next week. The same can be said about Randle who is dealing with his own injuries that left him out of the first preseason game. Dunbar is dealing with an ankle injury. That left Johnson, an undrafted free agent, to pick up the slack and he too is injured.
Head coach Jason Garrett told the media via FOX Sports, that Johnson suffered a separated shoulder and would have more tests done on the injury over the weekend. After the release of Ryan Williams, Johnson joined the team and immediately began impressing in training camp. That earned him the preseason start which was capped off with 35 yards and a touchdown before getting hurt. Will this be the final straw that pushes Dallas to add someone to the rotation?
Team vice president Stephen Jones has remained adamant that the Cowboys are not at the position yet where they feel the need to add a free agent to the mix. However, how much longer can they really say that when four of their running backs are hurt in some way or another? Ray Rice, Pierre Thomas and Chris Johnson are the most marquee names on the market. Steven Jackson made it clear that he is healthy and good to go. The Cowboys might be running out of options.
"I still think we're a ways off," Jones said, via FOX Sports. "If the right situation presented itself, then we'd certainly take a look at somebody. But right now, the list that we have out there would be more of an emergency list and not necessarily one that we look at and say, 'Wow. This is the guy we can get who can make our team.'"
The Cowboys do have an impressive offensive line that will help any running back be successful, but putting their faith in ex-Baylor back Lache Seastrunk is not going to be enough to replace Murray. Randle is reportedly ready to play while McFadden sits on the PUP list. However, fans will still make the case that the best option moving forward is to pick up a free agent for depth.
