'It Hurt!' Dallas Cowboys' Tony Pollard On 'Frustrating' Playoff Injury vs. San Francisco 49ers

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard suffered a broken leg in last season's playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and he's looking to avenge that injury on Sunday night.

Sunday's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers is huge for every Dallas Cowboys player, but perhaps none more so than running back Tony Pollard.

Late in the first half of January's playoff game, Pollard suffered a fractured fibula and a high ankle sprain when then-49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward landed awkwardly on his leg during a tackle. Dallas' offense was already struggling, but after Pollard went down, any momentum the Cowboys may have had completely evaporated. After the Cowboys' 19-12 loss, their second straight playoff defeat to the 49ers, Pollard spent months working his way back to the field.

“It was frustrating,” Pollard said this week. “Especially when I got hurt, we were in the red zone about to score, driving the ball. We had a good drive going, and then that kind of killed the momentum. I felt like I kind of let my team down. It hurt.

“You’re so invested, you have so much invested into the season,” Pollard said. “You know you have goals, and you know who you want to be. It hurts once you get it cut short like that.”

Trainers help Pollard off the field after his injury in January

Nine months later, Pollard returns to the same place he suffered his devastating injury. He knows winning this game will be a great challenge, but with a chip on his shoulder, he's eager to face that test.

“These first four games, we’ve been going against some pretty good, stout D-lines so far," Pollard said. "We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Despite facing some tough defenses in the New York Jets and New England Patriots, Pollard has had a solid start to the season. The fifth-year running back, who's in his first season as the clear headliner, has 73 attempts for 311 yards and three touchdowns through four games. While his average yards per carry is a bit down, his start considering where he was just a few months ago is pretty remarkable.

Sunday's game against the 49ers will be the Cowboys' greatest test yet, and if they are to pass it, then they'll need Pollard at his best.