IRVING, Texas – DeMarco Murray might not be at full speed, as the Cowboys are preaching caution this time of year, but he's taking his first steps, so to speak.
Murray eased into a larger role in Cowboys Organized Team Activities on Wednesday, joining his fellow running backs in individual drills for the first time since the start of OTAs. Prior to that, he had been working out separately using resistance cords during the first four offseason practices.
"I got some good work in today. It was good to be back out there with my teammates and competing and just not being over there on those cords – those are definitely a beast," Murray said. "It just felt great to get back out there but mentally, physically, I had to make sure I was ready 100 percent. I didn't want to go out there and then come out for a bit, then miss a couple of days and go back and forth."
Murray didn't return to full team drills, but he said it was important to get back into sync with his fellow running backs during offseason workouts.
"It just felt great to be back out there and communicate with them more on a personal basis," he said. "When they see me out there, I think it gives them a little more. They see me working hard, and so they know they've got to match my intensity."
Wednesday's regimen seems to fit what Murray said Tuesday afternoon, when he predicted he'd return to the practice field. Both he and Cowboys coach Jason Garrett have stressed the importance of caution with injuries this spring, so it's unclear what the running back's timetable for full recovery is. [embedded_ad]
Durability has been the hot topic regarding Murray since he missed six games with a sprained foot last season. The Cowboys drafted Joseph Randle in April to help Murray carry the load, and questions have abounded since the third-year player stayed out of team exercises on the first day of OTAs.
Murray said injury concerns won't keep him from playing his physical, bruising style of football once the Cowboys return to live action.
"When it comes to that, you've got not control over that … It's not like it's little things here and there, I've had an ankle and I had a foot – two things that are pretty serious," he said. "I'd rather play five or six games the way I play – hard, fast and physical – than 16 games soft and tip-toeing and not contributing the way I'm used to contributing."
