The Cowboys lost running back Lance Dunbar, arguably their most consistent player at that position, for the season on Sunday to a torn ACL and MCL. The Cowboys don’t expect to sign a running back to replace him, indicating that Christine Michael is due for an increased role. That may be a mistake.
Michael is an unproven commodity in the NFL. A highly-touted second round pick in 2013, Michael languished behind Marshawn Lynch with the Seahawks, and was passed over in favor of Robert Turbin whenever Lynch needed a breather. In Dallas, he seems stuck behind Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden. If the Cowboys want to deploy him in Dunbar’s role, they’re likely to be underwhelmed.
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Michael has no history of catching passes. He’s supremely gifted as an athlete, but as a star at Texas A&M in college Michael caught 44 passes in four years, and never reeled in more than 15 passes in a single season. Even head coach Jason Garrett admitted Dunbar’s skill set was unique among their running back corps.
“Lance was a weapon for us and we use him as a weapon in a lot of different ways to impact our offense and impact the game,” Garrett said.
“To say we have someone in house who can do the same kinds of things – I don’t know if we have someone like that. But we do have guys in house who can do different things and hopefully we’ll play to their strengths.”
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Dunbar was Dallas’ most consistent receiver so far in 2015, however, and without WR Dez Bryant or QB Tony Romo available for the next few weeks, Dunbar’s absence may require the Cowboys to revamp their whole game plan. Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley are not premier options, so those receiving yards must come from somewhere. Count on McFadden, not Michael, to end up getting those yards out of the backfield.
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