Ezekiel Elliot comments on Cowboys opening season without the 'best player on their offense'

The Dallas Cowboys were already faced with a difficult opening task as they prepare to face the defending Super Bowl Champions and Tom Brady on Thursday night. Now, due to injuries and COVID-19, the Cowboys will head into the NFL season debut with at least one of their top offensive starters.

On Sunday morning, multiple media outlets reported Zack Martin tested positive for COVID-19, forcing him to sit out Week 1.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot gave Martin the ultimate compliment, while hinting that his absence against the ferocious Tampa Bay defense can’t be overstated.

“Zack is the best player on our offense,” Elliott told the media when asked about playing without Martin on Thursday. “Most runs come back behind him.”

Dallas Cowboys receive good news, too

Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense did receive some good news on the same day they found out Martin would be sidelined for Thursday night. Right tackle La’el Collins, who was a legitimate doubt to play on Thursday night, returned to practice on Sunday.

He had been sidelined for the entire last week of practice, after the issue arose earlier during training camp. In his absence, reserve tackles Ty Nsekhe and Terence Steele were taking snaps at right tackle.

Collins instead signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, where he has played guard, left tackle and right tackle. He’s started 61 of the 62 NFL games in which he’s appeared, and has been a mainstay on the line that blocks for Elliott.

Martin, the starting right guard, saw his health take a turn in the opposite direction of Collins’. After testing positive for COVID-19, The Athletic reports that he will not be available for the season opener against the Buccaneers. Instead, Conor McGovern is expected to start at right guard.

Martin was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, coming off the board with the 16th-overall pick. The Notre Dame alum became an immediate force on the offensive line; he was named a first team All-Pro four times, including his rookie season in 2014, and a second team All-Pro twice.