While star running back Ezekiel Elliott has been away from the Dallas Cowboys, rookie Tony Pollard has turned into a replacement unsure if he will have to start in the backfield in Week 1.
Elliott is holding out from the Cowboys' training camp and preseason in hopes to negotiate for a new contract with the NFC East franchise. However, in his stead, the team's fourth-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft in April Pollard has had the majority of carries in the backfield. Since joining the ‘Boys, Pollard had never expected to turn into such an important piece, but he may have to should Elliott extend his holdout into the regular season like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Le'Veon Bell demonstrated such fortitude last year.
Pollard reportedly is ready for whatever lies ahead for the rookie and Dallas (via NBC Sports' ProFootballTalk).
“I 100 percent believe in myself,” Pollard said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com, “so I feel like if that’s the case, if that happens, then I’ll be ready for it. I’m ready for whatever.”
“I see it being hard to beat us, especially when he comes back, and we get everything going,” Pollard said of the Cowboys’ backfield.
Elliott rushed for 1,434 yards and scoring six rushing touchdowns, also averaging 4.7 yards per carry. The Ohio State product led the league in 2018 in rush attempts, yards, and touches. Elliott is also a dynamic offensive threat for Dallas, becoming a pass-catching back for quarterback Dak Prescott to work with.
Earlier in the week Cowboys owner Jerry Jones jokingly asked “who?” to a reporter's question about the status in negotiating with Elliott, which did not rub off well with the running back and his camp.
The 22-year-old Pollard went to Memphis for four years, where he rushed for over 500 yards in his senior season, scoring six touchdowns.
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