NAPA — History tells running back Lonyae Miller to keep working and maintain a low profile.

“I’m trying to take what (coach Dennis Allen) says in meetings about ‘there’s no light at the end of the tunnel’ and just focus on the day,” Miller said. “That’s pretty much been my philosophy throughout training camp. Take everything day by day and let the chips fall where they may.”

Through the natural attrition of football, the chips are falling Miller’s way.

With the Raiders likely to give starter Darren McFadden no more than a cameo role in the preseason opener Monday night against Dallas, and injuries to running backs Mike Goodson (neck) and Taiwan Jones (hamstring), Miller is probably looking at carries in double figures against the Cowboys.

He got to rest up Thursday as the Raiders had the day off, resuming practice Friday at 2:20 p.m.

Miller, 6-foot, 216 pounds, is the closest thing the Raiders have to a heavy-legged inside runner to replace Michael Bush as a tailback. He doesn’t have Bush’s size, but Miller has gained steady yardage between the tackles by being decisive and having a good forward body lean.

His style is in stark contrast to Goodson, who is a quick slasher, and Jones, an elusive darter.

“He’s a different type of back than the other backs we’ve got,” Allen said. “He’s a little bit more of a downhill, pounder-type guy. He doesn’t quite have the same explosiveness as those other guys, but he’s been a consistent runner.”

After a spectacular prep career at Kaiser High School in Fontana, Ca., that saw Miller gain 2,567 yards on 277 carries with 34 touchdowns, he went to Fresno State and averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his four-year career.

He often played in a platoon situation, however, and as a senior gained 354 yards while eventual first-round draft pick Ryan Mathews ran for 1,808 yards.

Miller signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent, played four games in 2010 and eventually was placed on the Cowboys’ practice squad. He was released and signed to the Raiders practice squad last Dec. 7.