Ezekiel Elliott has been the Cowboys' workhouse running back since 2016. It's led to two rushing titles and four 1,000-yard seasons, but it's also caused a lot of wear and tear on Elliott's body with over 1,600 carries.

That's been evident over the last two seasons as Elliott has suffered multiple injuries that have affected his production. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated sees Elliott getting some relief in his workload for the Cowboys this upcoming season as he predicts, for the first time in Elliott's career, that he won't lead the Cowboys in touches for running backs.

"The former top-five pick is entering his age-27 season having declined in total workload each year since the 2018 season. The Cowboys are rapidly trying to diversify their offense and are looking for more dependable ways to move the ball."

This is certainly a possibility with Elliott's recent injury history, and the dynamic weapon they have behind him at running back. Tony Pollard, the former fourth-round pick in 2019, has been the Cowboys' most explosive runner since he entered the NFL. On any given play, Pollard can take a run or pass to the house, making him the perfect complement to Elliott's bruising style of running between the tackles.

Dallas began OTAs last week. According to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys were working on a plan to feature Pollard more in the offense, putting him on the field with Elliott are the same time, something the Cowboys have failed to do immensely over the last three seasons.

There is one problem with this becoming a reality, and that's offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. During his time with the Cowboys, he's had multiple top-ranked offenses which speak to his talent as a play-caller. However, he's done a poor job of consistently featuring the weapons he's had at his disposal when defenses adjust which has made the Cowboys' offense, albeit high-powered, look stagnant at times.

Elliott had a great start to the 2021 season. After the first five games, he was third in rushing with two 100-yard performances. Unfortunately for the two-time All-Pro suffered a torn PCL in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, and although he didn't miss a game, it was obvious that he was hobbled.

The Cowboys didn't do Elliott any favors by keeping him on the field. While his effort was commendable and bodes well for how productive he can be in the future when healthy, Pollard was capable of holding down the fort for a few weeks while Elliott got some rest.

A healthy Elliott is what the Cowboys are hoping for in 2022. Even if that is the case, Pollard is a weapon that should be utilized. Not just because he can put up numbers, but because he can prolong Elliott's career with the Cowboys with a reduced workload.

Feature image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports