Despite reportedly planning on using the recently acquired Tavon Austin as a running back, and drafting Bo Scarbrough in the seventh round last month, the Cowboys are apparently considering signing another running back. They’re working out Darius Jackson, who was recently waived by the Browns (Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
The Cowboys are quite familiar with Jackson, having taken him in the sixth-round back in 2016. Jackson made the 53-man roster his rookie season but was waived in December of that year to make room for Darren McFadden, who was returning from injury. Jackson was then claimed by the Browns where he spent the rest of the season. He missed all of 2017 with a knee injury.
Despite being on the active roster at various points for both the Cowboys and Browns, Jackson has never gotten a regular season carry. Before he was drafted, he was a standout at Eastern Michigan, scoring a school-record 16 touchdowns as a senior. Although the Cowboys already know a lot about him, they’re likely working him out to see how healthy he is and if he’s fully recovered from his knee injury.
With McFadden out of the picture, Rod Smith and Austin figure to soak up most of the playing time behind Ezekiel Elliott. If the Cowboys do decide to sign Jackson, that would leave him, Scarbrough, and journeyman Trey Williams all fighting for likely just one roster spot during training camp. Either way, whoever gets the final running back spot is unlikely to see the field much unless there’s a slew of injuries, as the Cowboys will want Elliott playing the vast majority of snaps. Jackson hasn’t shown much during his time in the league, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him get brought in for camp due to his familiarity with the team.
Rod smith is a terrible runner. Cowboys have no shot in any game Zeke doesn’t play