Stephen Jones: No timetable for Elliott extension

Although the Dallas Cowboys recently exercised the fifth-year option on Ezekiel Elliott's rookie contract, a long-term extension for the running back isn't imminent.

Reports surfaced following the 2018 season that Elliott would prefer a contract extension this offseason rather than in 2020, but Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones claims the two parties are without a timetable.

The star rusher is one of a handful of players for whom Dallas must weigh extensions in the near future. Quarterback Dak Prescott, receiver Amari Cooper, and cornerback Byron Jones are also in that group after the team recently extended defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

"I think those are all a work in progress," Jones said of extension negotiations, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon. "Certainly we've got a couple years there with Zeke to get that done. We certainly want to get him done. He's the straw, if you will, that stirs our drink. He's a key part of what we're about.

"Those things take time to get done. They don't happen overnight. Certainly, he's a priority in terms of ultimately getting him signed. There hasn't really been a timetable put on this."

Elliott, the fourth overall pick of the 2016 draft, has wasted no time producing at the pro level. The 23-year-old put up nearly 2,000 total yards in his rookie season and led the NFL with 1,434 rushing yards in 2018 after a suspension-shortened 2017 campaign.