Joseph Randle Misses Scheduled Treatment at Cowboys Practice Facility

The fact that Joseph Randle was no longer the starting running back for the Dallas Cowboys was supposed to be the biggest news surrounding him this week. But that wasn't the case when he reportedly left the Cowboys' practice facility Wednesday.

According to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram, Randle "bolted from the facility Wednesday for what has been termed 'a personal issue' by a source," skipping a treatment session for a strained oblique that held him out of practice in the first place.

Hill did point out that a source said Randle did not leave the facility out of anger about being passed on the depth chart by Darren McFadden.

On Thursday, Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan reported that while Randle's demotion can be considered "among" the running back's issues, a "personal matter" was the main reason for his absence. Fisher added that the more the team learns about the absence, the less upset the team is.

Head coach Jason Garrett spoke to reporters on Thursday, confirming Randle was absent due to a personal issue and "was excused." 

Hill reported that Randle returned to the team facility Thursday "but did not speak" to Garrett.

The timing of this development is interesting given Randle’s recent quotes about his role with the team, per Hill: "I just want to be somebody good around the locker room that’s not always mad about this and mad about that, making sure that I’m not a cancer in this locker room. So I’m not going to be the one complaining for carries and all this different stuff like that. That’s not how I’m going to play."

This would probably be easier for Dallas to deal with if Randle were playing better on the field. He has 315 rushing yards in six games this year, although 87 of them (and three of his four scores) came in one contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He's averaged a mere 3.68 yards per carry in every other game.

Todd Archer of ESPN.com pointed out that "it has been a tumultuous 12 months for Randle on and off the field."

Randle was arrested in February for unlawful possession of marijuana after police "received a call for domestic violence with a weapon after an incident between Randle and the mother of his son."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported Randle faces a one- or two-game suspension for the incident, noting it's firearm and conduct related as opposed to a violation of the domestic violence policy.

He was also arrested last October for shoplifting and received six months probation for the incident. Randle even caught criticism for saying DeMarco Murray left "meat on the bone" when he ran for an NFL-best 1,845 yards in 2014 and angered his coaches for, as Archer described it, "extending the ball over the goal line while leaping in back-to-back games."

Randle’s decision to leave the facility is the latest addition to the list of storylines surrounding the running back that don’t necessarily have to do with his on-field performance. For now, it seems as if McFadden’s grasp on the starting role is secure, especially because he tallied 152 rushing yards and a score Sunday against the New York Giants.