The Cowboys are going to waive RB Darren McFadden, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport and Todd Archer of ESPN.com note that the decision is a mutual one.
McFadden, now 30, has appeared in only one game for Dallas this season, rushing one time for negative two yards. Even in the wake of Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension, he has not been able to get on the field, as Alfred Morris has jumped to the top of the depth chart and Rod Smith has served as Morris’ backup.
McFadden rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2015, his first year in Dallas, but he lost much of the 2016 season due to injury and was brought back for 2017 on a minimum salary benefit deal worth $980K. The Arkansas product, whom the Raiders drafted with the fourth-overall selection of the 2008 draft, has been plagued by injury for much of his career, and he therefore never really lived up to his enormous potential. He did post 1,157 rushing yards for Oakland in 2010 — to go along with 507 receiving yards — but outside of 2015, that was the only time he topped 1,000 rushing yards in his 10 years in the league.
As Rapoport notes, however, McFadden could be a useful piece for a contending club, as he should certainly be fresh down the stretch. If McFadden goes unclaimed on waivers, he will be free to sign with any team.
I don’t get why… they re signed him and never even used him
Because they’re an idiotic organization
Hey Jones don’t forget to waive your head coach!
As frustrating as the Elliott situation is, the strange decisions by the coaching staff (playcalling smh) has been more harmful to the Cowboys this year. McFadden looked like he turned back the clock in the preseason. He was actually finishing runs and being far more aggressive than in previous years. Then, mysteriously, he is no longer in the rotation after he was supposed to take over for Elliott during his suspension. Something doesn’t smell right about this. At this point, if they lose to the Redskins, I’d rather have them tank for a better pick as that defense needs some serious help and they must get better backup offensive lineman. They should also look at the coaching staff as some of the decisions on both sides of the ball have been questionable at best.