Cowboys RBs Return To Practice

OXNARD, Calif. — Running back Darren McFadden finally got on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice field Saturday. He was joined off the injured list by running back Lance Dunbar.

And suddenly the much anticipated Cowboys running back battle is off and running. Joseph Randle remains atop the leader board in the race to replace departed DeMarco Murray. He has been healthy and ready to go since the first start of training camp.

Dunbar was having a good camp until a sprained ankle sidelined him for a week. But the disappointment had been McFadden, who has a lot to prove to the Cowboys and himself after seven tough years in Oakland, where was bogged down by injuries.

He signed with the Cowboys in March, hoping for a fresh start and a chance to compete for the starting spot. But McFadden was slowed by a right hamstring injury in minicamp before injuring the left hamstring before training camp.

“It was really difficult and frustrating,” running backs coach Gary Brown said. “He has a chip on his shoulder. He wants to prove he was worth the pick he was.

“I know he had some problems in Oakland with his health and things of that nature. But he’s

here now. He is excited. It seems like he is reinvigorated. He’s ready to go.”

Randle is just happy to finally be practicing with his teammates.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been out there, so definitely just looking forward to getting out there and being out there hustling and grinding with my teammates,” McFadden said. “Just showing them the type of back that Darren McFadden is. You’re going to get a hard worker, a guy that knows how to pick up pass protection and break big runs for this offense.”

Now it’s time for the competition to commence. Owner Jerry Jones is certainly ready to see if one of the running backs will take ownership of the position.

“I think we’ll see,” Jones said. “I haven’t worried about it because I felt that we were going to see it, have an opportunity to see it at the right places and this is as good time as any. This will be a good week. We’ll be able to take a good look certainly at these backs. As far as I’m concerned, we’re right on schedule as far as having a back or backs ready to go for the New York Giants. I’m not in any way anxious in any way.”

Jones said the Cowboys are happy with the backs they have and there is no interest in signing a veteran off the street like Ray Rice or Chris Johnson.

“The facts are that I felt all along that we’ve got a great opportunity with Dunbar, with certainly Randle and with McFadden,” Jones said. “We’ve got a great opportunity if we can keep those guys healthy as we go into the meat of our preseason, see some good work from them in the preseason games, then we’re getting to evaluate the backs that we’ve had months and months and months to evaluate these guys or the prospects of playing with them so you can’t get nervous now.”