Cowboys' Randle strains oblique, throwing RB depth into question for preseason opener
The Cowboys' running back problems continued on Monday afternoon, as Joseph Randle left practice with a strained oblique.
It's hard to believe the problem was a serious one, as Randle remained at practice and watched the day's proceedings. The fact still remains that the Cowboys are running out of ball carriers as they near their first preseason game.
Randle now joins Lance Dunbar and Darren McFadden on the injury list â meaning all three of the team's primary running backs are currently unavailable. McFadden is still on the preseason Physically Unable to Perform List with a hamstring strain, and he won't practice until Saturday at the earliest.
"We just made a decision we think is best for him to use this week to really get his feet up underneath him," said Cowboys coach Jason Garrett of McFadden. "Hopefully he'll have some good work over the next few days and be ready to practice on Saturday."
Dunbar, meanwhile, is five days removed from the ankle sprain he suffered last week. He's not going to practice this week, and he won't play against the Chargers on Thursday, either. Dunbar said he intends to work on cutting on the hobbled ankle on Tuesday, and he's hopeful he can practice next week.
None of that does much to change their prospects for Thursday, though. There's no official word about Randle's injury as of yet, but it seems unlikely the Cowboys would rush him into action on Thursday. With that in mind, the only viable ball carriers on the roster are Tyler Clutts, Gus Johnson and Lache Seastrunk.
Johnson has gotten a lot of work in the past week due to the injuries, and Clutts received far more carries than normal on Monday evening. But it doesn't leave the Cowboys with a lot of breathing room when it comes to the San Diego game.
There's been no indication of whether the Cowboys intend to add depth at the position this week, but the long list of injuries continues to be one of this camp's primary concerns.
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