Cowboys Rumors: Insider's Ezekiel Elliott scoop shows Jerry Jones was posturing

Throughout the offseason, Ezekiel Elliott has been spotted working out with his former Dallas Cowboys teammates.

Dak Prescott has led almost all of these workouts and the quarterback himself went on the record saying he's excited for Elliott's next opportunity in the NFL, wherever that may be.

Jerry Jones has pushed the narrative that he would like Elliott back on the Cowboys. Back in April, over a month after Elliott was released, Jones was adamant that the "ship has not sailed" about Zeke returning to his old stomping grounds.

Fast forward to June and Jones told reporters that Dallas ruled out re-signing Elliott. It's always felt like the Cowboys would welcome Elliott back with open arms if he was willing to play on a significantly truncated salary.

According to Cowboys insider Jane Slater of NFL Network, though, it doesn't sound like there's been any movement toward an Elliott reunion.

Don't count on the Cowboys re-signing Ezekiel Elliott

"I circled back to one of my sources today and was told quite frankly they're just not thinking about [re-signing Elliott]," Slater said Monday on "NFL Total Access. "When I asked if there was a situation where they would bring him back, it sounded like the same answer I've gotten from a number of teams. It would basically require another injury to another one of their RBs."

The fact an injury to a running back is seemingly the only avenue that would incentivize the front office to re-sign Elliott is a testament to their valuation of the player.

Whispers this offseason have indicated Elliott is reluctant to take a secondary role. Does that mean Elliott is unwilling to take a reduced salary? Might that explain why he hasn't generated a sniff of interest since he was released in March? Or is it simply a matter of Zeke waiting until training camp, or thereabouts, to sign?

It's a guessing game, but Slater's reporting is usually on the money.

It'll be interesting to see what this means for Dallas' overall interest in the RB market. While the coaching staff has waxed poetic about incumbent starter Tony Pollard, Malik Davis and the rest of the backfield, numerous fans would like the team to add a veteran.

Aside from Elliott, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and James Robinson highlight the best of the remaining available backs.

Maybe the Cowboys pursue a deal with one of them during training camp -- Fournette feels like the most realistic -- but based on Slater's intel fans shouldn't hold their breath about Elliott returning to America's Team.

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