Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after Thursday’s preseason game that he believes holdout RB Ezekiel Elliott could miss multiple regular-season games.
“I’m operating as thought right now he’s going to miss regular season games,” Jones said, per Todd Archer.
“My entire expectation for what we’re putting together as a team right now would anticipate with him holding out and not having any training camp that he’s going to miss games. I just accept that.”
“He can’t, and won’t miss them all,” Jones added. “We need Zeke. We’re a better team with Zeke.”
Last week, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that the Cowboys have offered to make Elliott the NFL’s No. 2 highest-paid running back.
That would put Elliott’s latest offer somewhere between Rams RB Todd Gurley‘s $14.375 million per year and Jets RB Le’Veon Bell‘s $13.125 million per year.
Although, Elliott reportedly is angling to surpass Gurley as the NFL’s highest-paid running back. Gurley signed a four-year $57.5 million deal last August.
The Cowboys have talked up their backups to Elliott in recent weeks and could open the season with rookie Tony Pollard as their No. 1 running back, depending on whether or not they’re able to get a deal done in the next week or so.
Elliott, 24, was taken with the No. 4 overall pick by the Cowboys back in 2016. He signed four-year contract worth $24,956,342, which includes a signing bonus of $16,350,068.
Elliott will make a base salary of $3.85 million for the 2019 season and another $9.1 million in 2020 under the fifth-year option of his contract.
In 2018, Elliott appeared in 15 games for the Cowboys and rushed for 1,434 yards on 304 carries (4.7 YPC) to go along with 77 receptions for 567 yards receiving and nine touchdowns.
We’ll have more regarding Elliott as the news is available.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
