Latest on Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott. A more positive day. Issues continue on structure.

The tweet went on to say the big issue is the impact of the 30% rule. It has been a grind, according to Robinson. That rule pushes a lot of money up front, or forces creative measures to meet Todd Gurley's average per year. Dallas doesn’t want a frontloaded deal, but talks are progressing according to the tweet. Seems like good news for those who took a chance on drafting Zeke. A full workload in Week 1 may be a lot to ask at this point, even if he does suit up.

Adam Schefter is reporting contract talks between the Cowboys and running back Ezekiel Elliott are “intensifying” and a deal could be done this weekend.

Deadline spur action, as has become well known, not just in football but in life. Not that there was a hard deadline, but we are just eight days away from the Cowboys’ opener on September 8 against the Giants. But this is absolutely a positive sign and chances are now rising he will be available for Week 1, so if you didn’t panic, great job staying the course. If you haven’t drafted yet, you can still fee comfortable taking Zeke in the top half of the first round. Don’t be afraid to also take Tony Pollard later as well as a strong handcuff.

ESPN's Todd Archer is reporting Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones is now expecting RB Ezekiel Elliott to miss more than just the season opener against the New York Giants on September 8.

"'I'm operating as though right now he's going to miss regular-season games," Jones said of the running back after the Cowboys concluded the preseason Thursday with a 17-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "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,'" wrote Archer. Archer is also reporting nothing appears imminent between the Cowboys and Elliott.

Tony Pollard's value continues to rise. The rookie rushed 15 times for 84 yards in three preseason games, being held out of the preseason finale against the Buccaneers. Pollard is in line for a sizable workload against the Giants. If you already had your draft and Pollard is somehow still a free agent, grab him now.

The Cowboys open vs. the Giants, at the Redskins and vs. the Dolphins before a big Sunday night showdown in New Orleans.

Cowboys beat reporter Jean-Jacques Taylor said, "The Cowboys, I think, want Tony Pollard to be exactly what Tavon Austin was for the Rams in 2015. That year, he had 104 touches -- 52 receptions and 52 carries -- for 907 yards and nine touchdowns. That's 6.5 touches per game.

Related players: Ezekiel Elliott

JJT added that's a doable number with Ezekiel Elliott still getting his touches, assuming he and the team come to terms on a contract. JJT feels the Cowboys need some big-play juice and that Pollard can give that as a complementary player. We've seen speculation that Pollard can stand on his own in certain PPR leagues and this would certainly indicate that.

Jerry Jones added that Tony Pollard still has a lot of work to do, specifically in pass protection, where he missed a blitz pickup that got quarterback Dak Prescott hit.

Still, Pollard, a fourth-round pick out of Memphis who also returns kickoffs, has impressed the Cowboys so far in camp. And he might just be the Week 1 starter, if the Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott don’t come to terms on a new contract.

Related players: Darius Jackson, Jamize Olawale, Mike Weber, Alfred Morris

All along, Pollard has been the favorite to see passing-down action for the Cowboys and the thought was he could even hold his own in PPR leagues. Pollard's stock seems to be still on the rise, especially with Elliott still holding out.

NFL Network's Jane Slater reports on her conversation with a source close to negotiations for a new deal with Ezekiel Elliott, "How close is this Zeke deal to getting done? A source informed told me, 'close? Nope.' So, what are the sticking points? The guarantee? Length? 'Everything.'”

Despite some recent optimism, there doesn't seem to be a new deal on the cusp of getting signed for Ezekiel Elliott. The most important date remains August 6th, as that's the day Elliott will need to report to camp if he wants to accrue a season toward free agency. If Elliott blows by that, we have a problem in Dallas.

Cowboys training camp is underway in Oxnard. Ezekiel Elliott is still not present.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones briefly addressed the situation on Sunday night.

"You don't have to have a rushing champion to win a Super Bowl," Jones said in a one-on-one interview with CBS 11 Sports on Sunday.

Jones has previous experience in this department. In the 1992 season, Emmitt Smith became the first-ever rushing champion to be a member of a championship team as the Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

In Elliott's absence, Darius Jackson and rookies Tony Pollard and Mike Weber will have the opportunity to make an impression of their own in Kellen Moore's new offense during training camp.

Jones went on to say in the story: "Consequently, when we are looking at putting Zeke's contract in place, we've got to realize that the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl. So, you've got to do all of the things along with having Zeke that allow you to have other players so that you can win the Super Bowl."

Other reports today said Elliott is on his way to Mexico to train, like he did during his suspension.

Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that Darius Jackson, the Cowboys' sixth-round pick in 2016, received first-team reps at practice today, while Ezekiel Elliott is holding out of training camp in search of a new contract.

Jackson has bounced around the league since 2016, also making stops in Cleveland and Green Bay before returning to Dallas. Jackson has six career carries, which all came in Week 17 of last season. Hill notes that Jackson is getting first-team reps now because he is the most experienced running back among the available players. But the team does have plans for Tony Pollard, the Cowboys' fourth-round pick out of Memphis. Pollard is expected to be the change of pace back behind Elliott, while Mike Weber is expected to challenge Jackson to be Elliott's primary backup.

NFL Network's Jane Slater tweets, "My sources tell me Ezekiel Elliott is not on the flight to LA. Again, he has until Friday am to show up at camp though. Players have chosen to fly on their own in the past."

The fact that Ezekiel Elliott isn't on the team charter is interesting because yesterday's reports had him showing up for the flight to California. Like Slater says in her tweet, Elliott could still hitch a ride to training camp by himself, so the holdout hasn't officially begun. Stay tuned for the continuing adventures.

A source familiar with the talks between Dallas and Ezekiel Elliott said Monday that the impasse hasn’t yet reached that crisis point.

The story said the Cowboys were hoping to put Elliott on the back burner for now and focus on extensions for QB Dak Prescott and WR Amari Cooper, but Elliott appears ready for his now - with two years left on his rookie deal. The story added Elliott needs to report to camp by Aug. 6, which would preserve his accrued fourth season and keep him on track for unrestricted free agency following his fifth season. Nothing is official as of yet, but Elliott at least seems to be weighing his options.