Cowboys back Darren McFadden surpasses 1,000-yard rushing mark

Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden became the seventh player in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season early in Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins at AT&T Stadium.

McFadden reached the mark on his second carry of the game, a 6-yard run. He gained 1 yard on his first carry. McFadden had 35 yards on eight carries at halftime.

McFadden entered the game needing 3 yards to reach 1,000 yards on the season.

He has five 100-yard rushing games this season, including 152 yards on on 29 carries at the New York Giants on Oct. 25.

McFadden is only the sixth Cowboys player to gain 1,000 or more yards in a single season. He joins Emmitt Smith (11 times), Tony Dorsett (8), Calvin Hill (2), Herschel Walker (1), DeMarco Murray and Julius Jones (1).

McFadden had missed 29 games with 15 different injuries in his seven seasons with the Oakland Raiders, before signing with the Cowboys in the off-season. The former Arkansas standout had produced only one 1,000-yard rushing season (2010) in the NFL before Sunday’s game.

He assumed the lead back role from the since-departed Joseph Randle in the Cowboys’ sixth game against the New York Giants, and has thrived ever since.

This story was originally published January 3, 2016 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Cowboys back Darren McFadden surpasses 1,000-yard rushing mark."