Cowboys Won’t Sign RBs “At This Time”
The Cowboys worked out a pair of veteran running backs yesterday, but it doesn’t sound like a signing is imminent. According to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (via Twitter), the Cowboys are not planning on signing either Ronnie Hillman or Denard Robinson “at this time.”
The workouts could have purely been exploratory, especially when you consider that the Cowboys are rostering an impressive trio of running backs in Ezekiel Elliott, Alfred Morris, and Darren McFadden. For what it’s worth, the team did carry four running backs last season, with Lance Dunbar (who has since signed with the Rams) collecting 31 rushing yards on nine carries while also catching 16 passes for 122 yards. The Cowboys are also currently rostering undrafted running back Jahad Thomas and fullback Keith Smith.
Of course, the Cowboys could also be looking to cover their tracks in case Elliott is suspended. We learned yesterday that the NFL’s investigation was wrapping up, although we probably won’t learn of any discipline until next week. The organization could simply be delaying a running back signing until they get more clarity on their 22-year-old star.
Neither Robinson or Hillman were particularly productive last season. Hillman appeared in eight games with the Chargers and Vikings, compiling only 131 yards on 41 carries. Robinson finished the season with 144 yards on the same amount of attempts. The two running backs have plenty of pass-catching experience, with the duo having combined for four 20-plus reception seasons.
David Irving No-Shows For First Day Of Camp
- Cowboys defensive end David Irving was a no-show for the team’s first day of camp on Friday, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com. It’s unclear why Irving was absent, but he’s now subject to a $40K fine for missing reporting day. Irving’s already set to serve a four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Dez Bryant Reports To Training Camp Late
- A lack of punctuality has been a problem for Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant throughout his career, and his issues with reporting to team functions on time have already cropped up this year. Bryant made it to training camp three hours late on Friday, relays Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, though the player informed Jane Slater of NFL Network that he has been dealing with sinus infections and headaches. He’s now working with the Cowboys’ training staff to alleviate his sinus troubles, adds Rapoport. Further, Bryant apologized to Cowboys coaches and “took full responsibility” for his tardiness, writes Slater, but it’s still likely the team will fine him, reports Clarence Hill Jr. of the Star-Telegram (Twitter links here).
Cowboys Work Out Ronnie Hillman
Denard Robinson isn’t the only veteran running back getting consideration from the Cowboys. The team also auditioned Ronnie Hillman on Thursday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Cowboys Work Out Denard Robinson]
It appears that the Cowboys are looking into reserve running backs on the cusp of training camp. While they arguably have the best trio of running backs in the NFL (Ezekiel Elliott, Darren McFadden, and Alfred Morris), the Cowboys are still looking at ways to bolster the unit.
Hillman, 26 in September, was a surprise cut by the Broncos before the 2016 season. Last year, he spent time with the Vikings and Chargers, but he didn’t do a whole lot with his 41 combined carries. Hillman’s 131 rushing yards left him with a career-low 3.2 yards per carry average and he had zero touchdowns for the first time in his five-year career.
Cowboys Work Out RB Denard Robinson
The Cowboys worked out former Jaguars running back Denard Robinson on Thursday, Jane Slater of NFL.com tweets. 
Dallas is pretty well set at running back as star Ezekiel Elliott is supported by a pair of former 1,000-yard rushers in Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden. It’s possible that the Cowboys are looking at Robinson as someone who can compete for fourth RB spot (if they carry four on the final roster) along with undrafted rookie Jahad Thomas and RB/FB Rod Smith. The Cowboys enjoyed the luxury of having four talented backs on the roster last year, but they’re slightly thinner now that Lance Dunbar is with the Rams. Someone like Robinson could also fill a temporary role on the roster if Elliott is suspended for any length of time.
Robinson, 27 in September, posted the second-worst YPC (3.5) of his career in 2016 off of 41 attempts. In 2014, however, he had a productive year as he averaged 4.3 yards per carry.
The former Michigan star worked out for the Bears in May and the Jets in June, but left both auditions without signing.
NFL Wrapping Up Ezekiel Elliott Investigation
Finally, the Ezekiel Elliott saga could be approaching its conclusion. The league’s investigation is nearing completion, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, and the league has shared its findings with the NFLPA and Elliott’s camp. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Re-Sign LB Justin Durant]
It still remains to be seen whether Elliott will be suspended and/or fined for the allegations made against him in 2016, but we should know one way or another soon. Of course, the Cowboys and their star running back have both grown impatient as the NFL’s fact-finding process has been going on for a full year.
The NFL will not announce any possible Elliott discipline today, nor this weekend, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, so the Cowboys will report to camp on Saturday with Elliott in limbo.
Elliott was not arrested after a woman filed a police report against him last July and the Columbus City Attorney’s Office declined to file charges. Still, the league office has left no stone unturned, particularly in light of the NFL’s unfortunate history with handling domestic violence cases.
If the league does suspend the Cowboys star, he’ll have to repay a portion of his signing bonus to the team in addition to losing game checks. In related news, Dallas authorities are halting their investigation into the infamous barroom fight from earlier this month that may or may not have involved Elliott throwing a punch.
Jourdan Lewis Going To Trial Over Domestic Violence Charge
- Cowboys third-round pick Jourdan Lewis‘ career is off to an inauspicious start. Lewis, the 92nd overall selection, will go to trial in Michigan next week for a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, reports Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today. That will keep Lewis out for the early portion of training camp, for which Cowboys rookies reported on Wednesday. Lewis’ charge stems from a March altercation with his live-in girlfriend, who told police that he put his “his hands around her neck.” The player pleaded not guilty, but he was unable to reach a settlement with prosecutors at a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, according to Jones.
Cowboys Re-Sign LB Justin Durant
The Cowboys announced that they have re-signed linebacker Justin Durant. To make room on the 90-man roster, the team has released cornerback Jeremiah McKinnon. 
Durant, a 10-year veteran, has played for four NFL teams, including two stints with the Cowboys. Re-signing him wasn’t necessarily an offseason priority for the Cowboys before, but Durant could provide some depth now that Damien Wilson could face league suspension. It also helps that Durant is familiar with the team’s defense and the 4-3 scheme.
The 31-year-old (32 in September) was a starter for Dallas in 2013 and 2014, but he was a reserve with the team last year. He finished out with 37 tackles and one sack. For his career, Durant has 92 career starts on his resume. He is still looking to replicate his 2012 campaign with Detroit, a season in which he recorded 102 tackles in 16 games. He has not played a full slate of regular season games since.
Outside of an April visit with the Bills, it has been a very quiet offseason for Durant. Now, he’s eager to prove that he still has a place on a 53-man roster.
Cowboys Notes: Elliott, Smith
The Cowboys should suspend Ezekiel Elliott themselves, Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News opines. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, Elliott’s involvement in a Sunday night brawl could still impact a potential suspension, even if he is not found of any legal wrongdoing (after authorities “suspended” the investigation, legal consequences seem unlikely). Cowlishaw seems to think that a two-game suspension is on the way from the NFL for last year’s abuse allegations against Elliott, so he figures the Cowboys might as well get ahead of the situation while sending a stern message to the running back.
Elliott may be guilty of some poor decision making, but he has not been found guilty of any crimes since joining the Cowboys. The running back’s odds of avoiding suspension could be a lot better than Cowlishaw seems to think, and I think it would be foolish for the Cowboys to take him out of action for 1/8th of the season instead of riding things out.
More from Dallas:
- According to a recent electromyogram, the nerve in the leg of Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is continuing to regenerate, Todd Archer of ESPN.com hears from a source. Smith will take the field with the team in training camp and there is hope of a full recovery months down the road. For his part, the Notre Dame product says he feels as good as he did pre-injury.
- The Cowboys have the seventh-best roster in the NFL, Nate Davis of USA Today writes. Davis assessed the talent of each unit of all 32 teams and gave the Cowboys a composite ranking of 12.9. Davis personally fears that Dak Prescott could be in for a sophomore slump and, apparently, the team’s departures in free agency have set them back in his mind.
- If Elliott is suspended, he’ll have to repay the team a portion of his signing bonus.
Latest On Ezekiel Elliott
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott may have had a role in a fight at a Dallas bar on Sunday, but police are halting the investigation because they can’t find the victim and witnesses aren’t cooperating. Rebecca Lopez of WFAA_TV first reported the Dallas Police Department would suspend the investigation, and the DPD subsequently issued a statement confirming it (Twitter links).
“The assault offense that occurred July 16th at the Clutch Bar located at 2520 Cedar Springs Road has been suspended due to the lack of a complaint,” announced public information officer Melinda Gutierrez. “Dallas detectives made several attempts to contact the victim through various ways but at this time have not been able to make contact. To date no witnesses have come forward to provide any additional information about this incident.”
This is the second positive development regarding this incident for Elliott, whom fellow bar patron Michael Huffman defended afterward, claiming that the Cowboy didn’t do anything wrong. While it looks as if Elliott will escape legal ramifications for this matter, the NFL is presumably still looking into it, and it’s continuing to investigate domestic violence allegations him from 2016. Elliott’s bracing for a suspension stemming from the abuse claims.