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Don’t scratch Ezekiel Elliott from the Dallas Cowboys’ starting lineup against the New York Giants on Sunday just yet.

Elliott, per multiple reports, left his holdout headquarters in Cabo San Lucas in hopes a contract extension with the team will be finalized before the Week 1 game against their NFC East rivals on Sunday in Dallas. Elliott is expected to be in Texas on Tuesday.

NFL Network reported “obstacles remain” for the Cowboys and Elliott in their effort to finalize a new deal.

Elliott bolted for Cabo in July as the Cowboys boarded a team charter for Oxnard, Calif., site of their summertime training camp.

Elliott has two years remaining on his rookie contract and is scheduled to early $3.853 million in 2019 and $9.099 million in 2020. He’s targeting a deal that would make him the highest-paid player at the position.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a five-year contract extension with right tackle La’el Collins expected to be official on Tuesday freed up almost $6 million in salary cap space. Some of that could be earmarked for Elliott, although the Cowboys have a queue of skill-position talent waiting to be paid.

Quarterback Dak Prescott, who did not hold out, is reportedly chasing a contract worth $35 million or more per season.

Wide receiver Amari Cooper is in the final year of his deal. The wide receiver market continues to escalate. Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas signed a $100 million deal averaging $20 million over five years in August, and Falcons All-Pro Julio Jones is in line to raise the bar further in ongoing negotiations with Atlanta.

–Field Level Media