IRVING, Texas – It's not often when the absence of a starting running back is considered secondary news.
But with Tony Romo dealing with a sudden back injury that required surgery, a hamstring injury for DeMarco Murray took a backseat. But that's not to say it isn't relevant, especially considering the injury history of Murray in his two seasons with the team.
Jason Garrett described Murray's injury as minor "tweak" and said the Cowboys are taking an overly cautious approach to this injury and any setback like this in late May.
Murray spent Tuesday – the first day of OTA (Organized Team Activity) practice on a side field working with the athletic trainers, along with Sean Lissemore.
The only reason for concern with Murray stems from his injury history. He played just 10 games last year after a sprained foot injury caused him to miss six games in the middle of the season. As a rookie in 2011, Murray had a hamstring injury early in training camp that slowed his development. He then missed the final month of the year with a fractured ankle.
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Last year, Murray rushed for 663 yards on 161 carries (4.1 yards per attempt) with four touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 251 yards.
With rookie Joseph Randle, a fifth-round pick from Oklahoma State already out of practice with a thumb injury, the Cowboys were left with Lance Dunbar and Phillip Tanner, along with Kendial Lawrence, an undrafted rookie from Missouri.
