DeMarco Murray Suffers Broken Hand That Will Require Surgery
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray has a broken hand that requires surgery and may miss Sunday's game against Indianapolis as the Dallas Cowboys make a run at a playoff berth.
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said on his radio show that Murray was having surgery Monday. He also said it is "probably a tough expectation" that Murray would play against the Colts.
Murray has 1,687 yards rushing and needs 87 yards to break all-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith's franchise record of 1,773 yards. Murray set an NFL record by starting the season with eight straight 100-yard games but the Cowboys may need to look elsewhere this weekend.
The Cowboys (10-4) might need to win both remaining games to ensure the end of a four-year playoff drought. They finish the regular season at Washington.
Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle split carries as Murray's backup in Sunday's 38-27 win over Philadelphia that gave Dallas the NFC East lead. In addition to Dunbar and Randle, the Cowboys have had Ryan Williams on their practice squad all season. Williams was taken 33 picks ahead of Murray in the 2011 draft.
Murray, a fourth-year back, has yet to make it through a full season without missing games because of injuries. He missed the last three games of his rookie season with a broken ankle and sat out six games in 2012 with a foot injury.
Last year, Murray missed two games with a knee injury. He has started 22 consecutive games since then.
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