McFadden was moved from the physically unable to perform list and said he’s ready to fully participate in on-field work. “So I think for us it’s just about going out and executing each play”.
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He hasn’t shown the Cowboys much since signing in March, days after Murray picked NFC East rival Philadelphia in free agency. Meanwhile, Randle, who is still not one hundred percent recovered from his own setback, joined the team drills that evening.
McFadden was a top 10 pick by Oakland in 2008 but had seven disappointing and injury-plagued seasons with the Raiders.
Lance Dunbar also returned to practice Saturday after missing a week with a sprained right ankle. He suffered his latest hamstring injury a week before training camp.
SB Nation suggested that Johnson was an underrated running back during this year’s draft and he has the potential to be the Cowboys’ secondary runner after Randle if McFadden’s injury would not make him available this season.
“It just felt great being out there on the field again, just to be able to run around and let my teammates know I’m coming back to work hard”, McFadden told reporters as soon as the evening session was done.
“We’ll be very guarded as to how we bring him along”, owner Jerry Jones said, per the Dallas Morning News.
“Now that there is some competition out here, you are going to see some hellified running”, said Gary Brown, the running backs coach. “They’re easing me back into it, but for me I just feel like I want to jump back into it with a full head of steam”.
Dunbar, an undrafted player in his fourth year, has always been viewed as more of a specialty back whereas McFadden, 6-1, 220 pounds, has the size to be an every-down power back in the same mold as Murray. As long as Randle doesn’t have a setback, all three running backs should practice next week, and they may each earn some playing time in week two of the preseason.
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McFadden has a lengthy injury history, and, after averaging more than 5 yards a carry in 2010 and 2011, that number has hovered around 3.3 YPC the last three seasons.
