Cowboys News: Jason Garrett Anticipates Ezekiel Elliott Will Report Amid Rumors

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday he expects running back Ezekiel Elliott to travel with the team to California on Thursday as it prepares to open training camp.

"Yeah, we anticipate that," Garrett told reporters. "I've heard nothing different on that."

Elliott's status for the start of camp has come under question as he seeks a new deal. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported last week the fourth-year rusher had "privately said that he will hold out of training camp unless he gets a new contract."

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson noted the 24-year-old Ohio State product hadn't made a final decision about whether to skip practices but predicted the situation could go "sideways fast" if the Cowboys didn't show legitimate interest in getting a deal done.

"We're just focused on our team and the guys who are going to be there," Garrett said Wednesday. "Zeke's had a great offseason and certainly excited about what he can do for our football team."

Elliott leads all running backs with 1,003 touches since the Cowboys selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, per Pro Football Reference. The Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley (979 touches) is next on the list, and then there is a sizable drop to the Los Angeles Chargers' Melvin Gordon (862).

The two-time Pro Bowl selection ranks 11th among running backs in total salary for 2019 with his rookie deal set to pay him $3.9 million, according to Spotrac. Dallas also already announced it has picked up the fifth-year option in his contract for 2020.

His current deal makes him one of the NFL's biggest bargains, and the aging curve for running backs suggests he's wise to seek more money now. Research by Devin Jordan showed rushers peak around 24—Elliott's current age—and then a drop-off occurs that accelerates by their late 20s.

Those numbers also explain why the Cowboys may be hesitant to give their starting back a lucrative, long-term extension. But Elliott can amplify the pressure by holding out.

Dallas is a serious contender that's tied for the 10th-best odds of winning this season's Super Bowl at 20-1, per Vegas Insider.

Garrett and Co. don't have another proven running back on their roster, though. So, even in a league that's now dominated by the passing game, being forced to move forward without Elliott would be a significant setback for the Cowboys.

Darius Jackson, Tony Pollard and Mike Weber would likely split work with the first-team offense if Elliott does hold out at the beginning of camp.