Darren McFadden full-go for Cowboys

The 27-year-old McFadden, who is one of the top two candidates for the Cowboys’ starting running back position, had been hampered by a recurring hamstring injury the whole summer which limited his participation to his new team’s practices and training sessions this offseason.

“Just displaying them the kind of again that Darren McFadden is”. The plan all along has been to replace DeMarco Murray with an RBBC of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar.

The veteran runner suited up for practice Saturday, but he only took part in individual drills.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated he is pleased with and committed to Dallas’ current stable of running backs.

But McFadden was slowed by a right hamstring injury in minicamp before injuring the left hamstring before training camp. McFadden signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Cowboys in March.

But he’s just happy to finally be practising with his teammates. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said yesterday there is no timetable for his return.

“The good news is he’s in great shape and they’ve really spent a lot of time working on that aspect of him being ready to go”, Jones said. The 72-year-old owner added that what is most important for him is that McFadden is getting healthier and in better shape to compete in the upcoming season. The Cowboys held Randle (strained oblique) out for precautionary reasons.

“Now that there is some competition out here, you are going to see some hellified running”, said Gary Brown, the running backs coach.

Gordon on his first drive had three carries for five yards and only finished with 11 yards on six carries. “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 has the size (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) to be an every-down power back in the same mold as Murray. He did post career-highs in 2010 with 1,157 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games.