MIAMI GARDENS, FL - NOVEMBER 22: Darren McFadden #20 of the Dallas Cowboys in action during the second half of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on November 22, 2015 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden will be out for the next two months with a broken elbow, head coach Jason Garrett announced Tuesday before the start of the team's mandatory minicamp.
Garrett told reporters that McFadden injured his elbow in an accident at home over Memorial Day weekend, although he did not reveal specific details about the accident.
McFadden practiced with the injury all last week and did not tell the Cowboys about it until Monday. An X-ray revealed the elbow was fractured, prompting McFadden to undergo surgery Tuesday morning.
Garrett said McFadden will miss "a couple months," but hopes the veteran will be able to return during training camp and should be ready for the season opener in September.
The injury could be a major setback for McFadden, who will have to compete for carries with rookie running back Ezekiel Elliot, the Cowboys' first-round pick. Elliot, who was drafted No. 4 overall, will get plenty of reps in minicamp and training camp, and will likely have a leg up on McFadden and Alfred Morris for the top spot on the team's depth chart. Dallas signed Morris as a free agent this offseason.
McFadden is the second big-name player on the Cowboys to get injured this spring. Defensive end Benson Mayowa will have a knee scope Tuesday, although he is expected to recover in time for training camp.
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