The Sports Xchange

IRVING, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys’ search for a running back to replace the departed DeMarco Murray hit a snag the past two of weeks of organized team activites when one of the top candidates, running back Darren McFadden, was slowed with hamstring issues.

McFadden was signed by the Cowboys in March shortly after Murray, the 2014 NFL leading rusher, joined the Philadelphia Eagles for big money as a free agent. McFadden signed a modest two-year deal with the Cowboys in hopes of restarting his career after seven disappointing and injury-plagued seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

But so far, Madden is finding the same bad luck in Dallas that he had in Oakland, watching instead of playing because of nagging injuries. He has spent the last two weeks rehabbing a hamstring injury and isn’t sure if he will be sidelined for the mandatory minicamp next week.

“It’s definitely frustrating, man,” McFadden said. “You always want to be out there taking plays and getting reps, but it’s one of those things I’d rather sit out now instead of push it and have something linger on me.”

McFadden hopes to do more at minicamp next week, but his goal is to be ready for the start of training camp in late July when he will compete in earnest with Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Ryan Williams for the primary snaps at running back in place of Murray.

“I love being in camp,” McFadden said. “It’s the start of something that you really have to build on. So you want to get out there and work hard. It’s going to be an exciting place. It’s an exciting atmosphere, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

So far, Randle seems to be the front-runner for the job. Dunbar is being targeted for a role as the team’s third-down back. Williams, a former second-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, is also being slowed by injuries. He missed the last two weeks of OTAs because of knee swelling stemming from an offseason cleanup.

The Cowboys also signed running Lache Seastrunk to bolster their running back depth for OTAs, minicamp and training camp. Seastrunk was a former sixth-round pick of the Redskins in 2014. He also played in college at Baylor. Head coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys liked him coming out of college and wanted to bring him in and give him a look.

Seastrunk was cut by the Redskins after camp last year. He then caught on with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans as a practice-squad player before being released by the Titans last month.

He is thankful to the Cowboys for the opportunity and still believes he can be a big-time back in the NFL.

“I’m going to always have my confidence,” said Seastrunk, who led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,177 yards as a senior. “If you’re not confident, you’re not going to play to your ability. It’s all about being patient and being understanding. I’ve always been humble, but I’m just more humble to have a better opportunity.”