Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott on Possible Lighter Workload: 'I Haven't Worn Down Yet'

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott doesn't see any reason for his workload to be reduced as he heads into his fourth season. 

"I haven't worn down yet," Elliott told reporters about touching the ball less.

The topic came up because Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown told reporters they need to incorporate other players into the fold to help sustain Elliott. 

"I think it's important for us as an organization to make sure that we can maximize his ability to help us go out and win championships," Brown said. "The way to do that is to take a little off of him. We've got to make sure we take care of that guy."

The Cowboys haven't been shy about riding Elliott's legs as far as he will carry them. He led the NFL in carries in 2016 (322) and 2018 (304), and led the league with 381 touches in 2018. 

It's been a major component of Dallas' success with playoff appearances in 2016 and 2018. Elliott has averaged the most yards per game among running backs in each of his three NFL seasons. 

A common theory in this era of the NFL is running backs don't offer great value, especially as first-round draft picks, because passing is emphasized more and their shelf life tends to be short due to the volume of hits they take. 

"The game has changed, so the value of the backs has changed," Bruce Arians told CBS Sports' Pete Prisco in 2015. "We used to run the ball, and you needed a good, lead back. So they went early in the draft. Now you can find them in the later rounds and they're just as good as the first-round guys. So why waste the pick?"

Elliott, who was selected fourth overall in 2016, has been an exception to the rule. The 23-year-old is a true workhorse in an era where carrying two running backs with different skill sets is typically the standard for teams. 

Dallas has prioritized running back depth this offseason, selecting Tony Pollard and Mike Weber on the final day of the 2019 NFL draft.