Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Eagles running back Darren Sproles

Height: 5-6 Weight: 190

Season: 11th

College: Kansas State

Strengths: Sproles has been productive at every level. He rushed for 5,230 yards and 79 touchdowns in high school, averaging almost 8.4 yards per carry. In college, he had 4,979 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He has 2,600 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, with a 5.2 yards per carry average in the NFL. The Eagles have vowed to use him more as a receiver this season, and he had seven receptions for 76 yards in the season opener. Despite his size, Sproles has been extremely durable with 138 games. (He missed 2006 with a broken ankle.) Sproles has excellent burst, and he still has good speed, though not the 4.48 he ran for scouts in 2005. Defenders can lose him in traffic. He always has been strong for his size, with 23 reps in the 225-pound bench press at the combine. He is a threat as a kickoff and punt returner, with seven returns for touchdowns in his career.

Weaknesses: Sproles’ size obviously has prevented him from becoming a feature back. He doesn’t pick up many yards after first contact. He is a marginal blocker in pass protection, but is rarely asked to help in that role. Sproles will fumble, with 20 in his career, including 11 lost.

Last week: He had five carries for 50 yards and seven receptions for 76 yards in the Eagles’ 26-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

Who has to stop him? The Cowboys lost Orlando Scandrick for the season to torn knee ligaments during training camp. Morris Claiborne started at right corner, and Tyler Patmon played 42 of 62 snaps as the slot corner with the Cowboys in the nickel. They held the Giants to 193 passing yards, with running back Shane Vereen contributing 46 yards on four catches.

Notable: The San Diego Chargers made Sproles a fourth-round pick, the No. 130th overall choice. … The Eagles acquired Sproles in a trade with the New Orleans Saints in 2014. … He started his career as the third running back behind LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner, while getting on the field as a returner. … He has made only 19 starts in his career yet Sproles set an NFL single-season record with 2,696 all-purpose yards in 2011. … He ranks eighth in NFL history in combined kick and punt return yardage with 10,433. … In 2014, Sproles had 1,237 all-purpose yards on 137 plays and led the NFL with a 13.0 punt return yard average. … He has 592 career receiving yards on Monday Night Football after his 76 receiving yards against the Falcons. That ranks him sixth all-time among running backs on Monday night behind Keith Byars (721), Roger Craig (683), Marcus Allen (678), Tony Dorsett (670) and Marshall Faulk (597). … He earned the nickname Tank because he weighed 10 pounds when he was delivered.

This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 6:06 PM with the headline "Cowboys Extra: Spotlight on Eagles running back Darren Sproles."