Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have anointed top draft choice Ezekiel Elliott as their No. 1 running back, even though he has yet to play a down in a preseason game. He’s expected to get the bulk of carries this season.
But RB Alfred Morris wants everyone to know he expects to have something to say about that.
He made his case in Friday’s 41-14 preseason victory against the Miami Dolphins, rumbling for 85 yards on 13 carries, including three runs of more than 10 yards. He showed patience in letting traffic clear in front of him before cutting left for a 15-yard touchdown and displayed strength in ripping through Mario Williams’ tackle attempt to make a 20-yard gain.
Elliott was held out again with a tweaked hamstring, and last season’s featured back, Darren
McFadden, is still recovering from a broken elbow, giving Morris the starting role for now.
“It’s an opportunity to say, ‘Look, I’ve done this, and I still can do this despite what happened last year to me,’ ” Morris said. “I’m still the same guy I was in 2012 as I am in 2016.”
In 2012, Morris rushed for 1,613 yards and 13 TDs for the Redskins. But his production has dropped every year since, and last season he had career lows of 751 yards and one touchdown.
Rookie watch: No one has made it official, but fourth-round pick Dak Prescott likely has won the backup quarterback job. The former Mississippi State star had 199 yards and two TDs on 12for-15 passing for a perfect 158.3 rating. In six possessions, he led the Cowboys to four touchdowns and two field goals.
Noteworthy: Dallas committed 12 penalties for 113 yards against the Dolphins, including three flags against the first-team offensive line. … Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Pro Bowl LT Tyron Smith (stinger) might miss the rest of the preseason.