Garrett: McFadden “Absolutely” Earned More Touches

Darren McFadden went for 152 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against the Giants

Around this time last week, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was announcing to the media that running back Christine Michael would see an expanded role in the offense, once the team returned from the bye.

For what it’s worth, the Cowboys kept their word where Michael was concerned on Sunday against the Giants. His five carries were four more than he’s had in any other game this season, his 18 yards a season high. But for obvious reasons Darren McFadden, not Michael, was the running back being talked about after the 27-20 road loss.

McFadden took up the slack when Joseph Randle was forced to the sidelines after just two carries with a tight back, and made a pretty strong case that the team would do well to feed him early and often moving forward. He finished with 152 yards, the first 100-yard performance by a Cowboys running back this season, and a touchdown on 29 carries.

[McFadden] played his best football game, there’s no question about that,” Garrett told the team’s official website. “But again, running the football is a collaborative effort. It starts with the guys up front. The tight ends, the receivers, the fullback, everybody that is involved in that. Coaches giving them great opportunities everybody is a part of it. He certainly took advantage of the chances he got (Sunday).”

Garrett was asked this week if the performance was enough for McFadden to earn more work.

“Absolutely,” Garrett said. “We will get back to work (Tuesday) and we will give him his opportunities and keep the whole thing competitive for everybody. But he has certainly earned some more touches.”

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