Dallas Cowboys: How Darren McFadden injury affects Ezekiel Elliott
The elbow injury to Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden will affect rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott this minicamp, allowing him to gain more reps with the starting offense.
Not that it helps the Dallas Cowboys with the injury to Darren McFadden, because a team can never have too many running backs. With McFadden injuring his elbow in an accident at his home, it is all but certain this minicamp Ezekiel Elliott will be able to learn more, and possibly at a quicker pace than scheduled.
Todd Archer of ESPN.com wrote this of the injury of McFadden:
"“At his physical on Monday before the minicamp, X-rays revealed the fracture. The surgery was performed Tuesday morning.”"
Archer also reported by quoting Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett that there is not exactly a set timetable on the return of McFadden:
"“The overarching thing was a couple months. So we’ll see how he responds to everything, but we do anticipate him being back at some point in training camp and possibly being able to play in the opener.”"
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This not only makes the progression of Elliott that much more important for the Cowboys, but the offseason signing of veteran running back Alfred Morris and the return of Lance Dunbar (who was injured early last season with an ACL tear) even more important as well. Even so, a lot of the success of the Cowboys offense will come down to the progression of Elliott.
At Ohio State, Elliott totaled 592 carries in three seasons, rushing for 3,961 yards and 43 touchdowns in a total of 35 games with the Buckeyes. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
It is no secret the college game is a lot different than the pro game, but with the 6-0, 225-pound Elliott, the expectations are very high in that he brings that type of production to the NFL and Cowboys offense. That was made evident when he was drafted fourth overall in late April when the Cowboys selected him over adding a player to a struggling defense.
It will be very interesting during this minicamp to hear how the progression goes for Elliott and if he improves on a faster pace than what was first expected.
Looking at what the Cowboys could potentially lose with McFadden injured is he did rush for 1,089 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns last season. Not to mention, the veteran presence he brings to the Cowboys is an important loss this time of year for the offense as well.
Credit McFadden for his work last season … he began the year watching Joseph Randle getting the starter’s role, and after that didn’t work out and the injury to Dunbar occurred, the running back unit was left to depend on McFadden for the rest of the season.
By the time McFadden had a bigger role within the offensive game plan, both quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant were injured and out, or on the mend and re-injured for a second time.
McFadden, who everyone knew wasn’t the longterm answer at running back, didn’t put up Adrian Peterson-type numbers, but he gave the Cowboys offense a heartbeat when it looked like they were going to be even worse than a 4-12 team by the time the season ended.
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Elliott is not just the running back of the future for the Cowboys, he is the running back of the “right now” as well, and now it is time for him to step up faster than once expected, learn the playbook even quicker and possibly become one of the big reasons the Cowboys go from four wins to returning to the playoffs once again.