DeMarco Murray is on pace to match the NFL's all-time record for carries in a season. The Dallas Cowboys know that needs to change.
Murray was a true workhorse on Sunday against the Houston Texans, finishing with a career-high 31 carries for 136 yards in the 20-17 overtime win. Murray has 130 carries for an NFL-best 670 yards through Dallas' first five games.
"DeMarco was out there and we think that's probably too many carries in the game, week in and week out," Jason Garrett said Monday, per ESPN.com. "He ended up with 31, so we'd like to get that number lower. We'd really just like to get the other guys an opportunity.
"I don't see any wear and tear in DeMarco but having said that, we want to make sure we create a rotation and we'll focus on doing that in the next few weeks."
A series of lower body injuries kept Murray out of 11 games in his first three seasons. He set a career high last season with 217 carries, a total he's on pace to reach by Dallas' ninth game this season. Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar have combined for 22 carries for 88 yards in the first five weeks. Expect one or both to see more work in the coming weeks.
Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson set the NFL record with 416 carries in 2006. That is not territory Murray should attempt to traverse -- this year or ever.
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