Phillip Tanner back in Dallas

[Carp]

The Cowboys have two running backs they don’t want to use in Thursday night’s preseason finale and two others battling injuries, leaving them with a need for someone to help get them through 60 minutes against the Broncos.

They’ve called on a familiar face to fill the need. Nick Eatman of the team’s website reports that Phillip Tanner is back with the team after spending the offseason with the Colts, who released him earlier this month.

Joseph Randle and Ryan Williams are competing for the third spot on the depth chart behind DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar, but Randle has an oblique injury and the oft-injured Williams is fighting a groin issue. Per Eatman, Tanner, who ran for 12 yards on nine carries in Dallas last year, will handle “most” of the running on Thursday while also seeing time on special teams.

The Cowboys will have to drop a player from the roster to make room for Tanner and could wind up dropping multiple players as Eatman says Tanner may have company as the Cowboys work to set up their roster for Thursday and beyond.

 

[Stars]

We have more running backs on the roster than the number of running plays we have in a game.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

So now we waste playing time and rosters spots just to "survive" preseason games. There is something truely sad about that. Plus why the hell don't we actually see what Dunbar can do?

 

[Hawkeye19]

So now we waste playing time and rosters spots just to "survive" preseason games. There is something truely sad about that. Plus why the hell don't we actually see what Dunbar can do?

Honestly, both Randle and Williams have outplayed him and Dunbar is an absolute liability in pass protection. I think he's the 4th best RB on this roster and his skill set is too narrow to warrant a roster spot.

 

[boozeman]

Plus why the hell don't we actually see what Dunbar can do?

This uber stupid organization has already decided Dunbar is the next Reggie Bush.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

This uber stupid organization has already decided Dunbar is the next Reggie Bush.

I just don't think you see any other NFL teams deciding that their backup RB is too valuable to use in a preseason game. So much so that you would rather sign a guy off the streets to play for a game rather then to use him. Hell he has barely played in the NFL as it is. Getting some actual playing time may do Dunbar some good.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I just don't think you see any other NFL teams deciding that their backup RB is too valuable to use in a preseason game. So much so that you would rather sign a guy off the streets to play for a game rather then to use him. Hell he has barely played in the NFL as it is. Getting some actual playing time may do Dunbar some good.

I agree I just hope this means he will actually be used in games and not as an afterthought.

 

[boozeman]

Hell he has barely played in the NFL as it is. Getting some actual playing time may do Dunbar some good.

Are you kidding? What if he gets hurt? Huh?

 

[Clay_Allison]

So now we waste playing time and rosters spots just to "survive" preseason games. There is something truely sad about that. Plus why the hell don't we actually see what Dunbar can do?

We're not wasting real roster spots, we're cutting people we already know have no chance to make the 53. This 4th game is one that most teams get through by playing guys they already know will not make the team. Who cares if we churn the bottom 22 to get the right numbers at certain positions to keep from having to use a starter or backup who has already made the squad?