Joseph Randle tweaked his back during the Cowboys' opening drive Sunday against the Giants and did not return to the game.
Randle rattled off consecutive gains of 13 and 11 yards on the drive before he was replaced by veteran Darren McFadden. It originally seemed as though Randle's injury would be minor, but he remained on the sideline after halftime and the Cowboys downgraded him from probable to doubtful in the third quarter with a lower back strain.
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McFadden took the bulk of the touches from there and broke the 100-yard mark before the start of the fourth quarter, adding a 1-yard touchdown run in the Cowboys' 27-20 loss to the Giants.
Cowboys coaches have challenged their running backs to break loose for more big plays. Randle was thought to be on a short leash heading into the game, with McFadden and Christine Michael threatening to poach touches.
Michael has taken a back seat to McFadden, though, with only three touches in three quarters.
