Darren McFadden was having a career year in 2011. He started the campaign off by setting a record for the most yards by an Oakland running back in the season opener with 150 yards against the Denver Broncos. And after only six games (he was injured on his second carry of the seventh game), McFadden has already piled up over 600 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Then, in that seventh game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McFadden suffered a season ending Lisfranc foot injury.
Now, nearly six months later, McFadden says his foot is feeling good and he is ready to get back to playing football. When asked about whether or not he would approach the game differently given his injury issues, McFadden made his stance clear. He is going to continue running at full speed and with reckless abandon, as he has always done. He has no intent on allowing fear of being injured to interfere with the way he plays the game.
McFadden has shown that he can be one of the best and most dynamic running backs in the NFL if he stays healthy. Now that the Raiders have lost their back up running back, Michael Bush, to the Chicago Bears, that talent is something the Raiders will need a lot of next season if they want to end their playoff drought.