The Facts: Elliott, 27, inked a six-year extension in 2019 worth $90 million at an average of $15 million per year. However, after he gets a guaranteed $12.4 million this season, the remaining four years have no guaranteed money. That would make things a lot easier for the Cowboys to move on from Zeke. For now, though, Elliott, who was picked fourth overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by Dallas, is all about moving forward with this year and getting past a knee injury he sustained early last season and played through. "It definitely was frustrating and definitely frustrating certain parts of the year, but it's football," Elliott said. "I think today might be the only day everyone's going to be 100 percent. From here on out, everyone's going to have a couple bumps and bruises and no one's going to be 100, so just trying to do everything I can off the field to make sure I preserve my health and am ready for Sundays."

Diehards Line: Elliott finished last season with a career-low 237 rushes for 1,002 yards, 10 touchdowns and a career-worst 58.9 yards per game. His 4.2 yards per carry were also below his career average (4.5). Those numbers came to be as backfield mate Tony Pollard averaged a career-high 5.5 yards per attempt to gain a career-best 719 yards rushing on 107 fewer carries than Elliott. Fans and media, alike, clamored for more Pollard touches prior to last season and continue to do so. "It's tough being injured and kind of feeling yourself lose a step," Elliott said. "So it definitely helped me get back to moving at the speed I was used to and bringing that confidence back to myself -- back to my body, back to my mind that I could make those cuts." Elliott believes he is indeed back, deeming himself fully healthy as the Cowboys practice in Oxnard, California. Of course, Elliott being back to his old self -- the back who went to three Pro Bowls in four seasons and won the rushing crown twice in that span – will remain to be seen until the games matter. And just how much he looks like the Zeke of old in 2022 might well determine if he's still leading the way for the Cowboys in 2023.