Cowboys’ Jones To Return, Will Back Up Murray
Added on Nov 15, 2011 by Jack Thurman in
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The Dallas Cowboys will welcome running back Felix Jones back to the lineup this Sunday after a four game absence, but he’s not expected to be the starter. The working plan is for Jones to back up DeMarco Murray, who has played extremely well in his absence. Murray has rushed for 601 yards in Jones’ absence setting a four game franchise record and helping the Cowboys earn a 3-1 record in that stretch.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones confirmed that Murray will continue to get most of the carries for the foreseeable future:
“One thing that comes to my mind is that Murray looks like the more he carries, the more effective he gets. You think of that theoretically about a workhorse running back, that they get better as the game goes along.”
“On the other hand, Felix — and this is not negative in any way — but Felix has always been a guy that looks like the best way for him to be his best is to inject him in spots. So we may have a guy here in Murray and we may have a guy here in Felix who can step in there 12, 13 times a ballgame and really have a chance to break it.”
Felix Jones took the high road when asked about Murray and his role upon returning from injury:
“What [Murray's] done is very good. I’ve just got to make sure I’m healthy when I get out there. He’s doing a great job. He’s handled the position very well.”
“Man, they’re really just worrying about me getting back on the field first. Once that happens, we’ll start talking about what’s going on on the field. Right now, I’m just worried about my health and getting out on the field.”
Dallas will play their arch rival Washington Redskins on Sunday at FedEx Field in Washington, DC. The Cowboys are a -7′ NFL betting favorite with the total set at 41′. The Cowboys won an earlier meeting on their home field by a final score of 18-16 though they failed to cover as a -3 point home favorite. The total in the first meeting was set at 44′.
