Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden has clarified how he broke his right elbow last month, telling an Arkansas newspaper that, contrary to what one of his coaches said, he was not hurt while trying to keep his cellphone from dropping.
News of McFadden's injury came out earlier this month when Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett told reporters that McFadden was injured over Memorial Day weekend at his house. X-rays revealed the fracture before the team's minicamp.
At the time, Dallas running backs coach Gary Brown said McFadden was hurt while while trying not to drop his cellphone.
In an interview last week with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, however, McFadden said that wasn't the case.
"I just slipped down and landed on my elbow," he told the newspaper. "My phone was in my hand, and so people kind of put that story out."
McFadden had surgery June 14 and could be out through the regular-season opener.
"I got a few weeks left in this brace, but other than that, my body feels good," McFadden told the Democrat-Gazette. "I feel great, and I'm looking forward to the season. I'm ready to go."
McFadden led the Cowboys in rushing last season with 1,089 yards despite not becoming the team's main tailback until the sixth game of the season. He also caught 40 passes for 328 yards. He did not miss a game.
The Cowboys selected Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft in April with the idea that he'd be the lead back in 2016. McFadden and Elliott split the first-team work in OTAs earlier this month. The Cowboys signed veteran Alfred Morris in free agency and took Darius Jackson in the sixth round of the draft.
Information from ESPN's Todd Archer was used in this report.