The Sports Xchange

IRVING, Texas — Running back Lance Dunbar of the Dallas Cowboys sustained a torn left ACL against the New Orelans Saints on Sunday and will be lost for the season.

The Cowboys are awaiting final results of an MRI exam. But that’s the early indication and they are set up season-ending surgery later this week.

The loss of Dunbar is a huge blow for an offense devoid of playmakers. The Cowboys used him like Darren Sproles and he was tied for the team in receptions and led in receiving yards through the first three games. He had a 45-yard run before going down against the Saints.

“He’s just a really good football player and he’s been a really good football player since he’s been with us,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s gotten more opportunities this year. I think he just shows how versatile and productive a player he can be. You saw that last night, he ran the ball from the backfield, a big run early on in the ball game, he’s shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield, he’s shown he can line up as a receive and catch the ball and make plays.

“He’s a good return guy. He’s just one of those guys when the ball is in his hands he does a lot of positive things for your football team. He’s a hell of a kid and he’s got a great future ahead of him. He’s going to come back, he’s going to handle it the right way, he’ll be better than ever.”

–Running back Joseph Randle came into the season hoping to get the meat off the bone that DeMarco Murray left last year, despite rushing for a team record and NFL-leading 1,845 yards.

Randle is just hoping to keep his starting job. He was benched late in the first half against the Saints after he stretched the ball over the pile at the goal line and had it knocked away for what officials initially ruled a fumble. He was yelled at and then benched.

“A little bit of a combination,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said when asked whether the running back briefly was benched or sat because of the regular rotation. “CMike (Christine Michael) was going to be the short-yardage runner in the game, in regular short-yardage situations down on the field.

“Darren (McFadden) was going to get his touches in the series he was going to work after that. But Joe got some chances in the second half as well.”

The Cowboys had warned Randle about reaching the ball across the plane after he did it on a one-yard touchdown run against the Falcons a week earlier. After he did it again Sunday in the loss to the Saints, Randle drew the ire of coaches.

Offensive line coach Frank Pollack, running backs coach Gary Brown and Garrett all had heated exchanges with Randle.

“We’ve talked about it,” Garrett said. “We’ve talked about it in the past. And sometimes when guys are in those situations, when it feels bottled up to them, they feel that’s their only answer.

“A couple weeks in a row he has done that. We do not want him to do that in those situations, particularly expose the football. Against Atlanta, the ball was jarred loose a little bit. We got lucky there. We got lucky again last night. That’s the reason for our approach as a coaching staff. We believe we can get that rectified.”

Randle finished with a team-high 11 carries for 26 yards, 14 yards coming on his first play, the final 12 on next 20 carries. He only four touches and one yard coming in the second half.

–Defensive tackle Ken Bishop was released on Monday along with linebacker Keith Smith, freeing up roster spots for the Cowboys to add linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Greg Hardy to the active roster. Both McClain and Hardy missed the first four games because of NFL suspensions.

–Defensive end Randy Gregory (ankle) might practice this week and play against the Patriots after missing the last three games. The pass rush could use the boost.

–Linebacker Sean Lee (concussion) was sidelined against the Saints. But he looked good after the game and on Monday. The Cowboys are optimistic he will be ready to go against the Patriots after he passes the concussion protocols.

–Wide receiver Dez Bryant (foot fracture) has a chance to return for the Oct. 25 game against the New York Giants, team vice president Stephen Jones said. Bryant has sidelined since the opener against the Giants. A return on Oct. 25 would be his recovery right at the six-week range the Cowboys anticipated initially.

–Quarterback Brandon Weeden lost for the 10th straight time as a starting quarterback. He is 0-3 since joining the Cowboys. But there were signs of progress against the Saints, particularly the 91-yard touchdown drive that tied the game in the fourth quarter with a 17-yard strike to Terrance Williams.