The training wheels are coming off for Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott

FRISCO — The Cowboys monitored Ezekiel Elliott’s snap count during the first two games this season, careful not to overload his plate following a 40-day contract holdout.

Moving forward, the counting stops.

Elliott’s training wheels appear ready for removal entering Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. While his workload ultimately could be limited if the scoreboard compels the Cowboys to pull certain players in the second half, Elliott otherwise will be cleared for a customary role.

Last year, Elliott never played less than 80% of the offense’s snaps in a game. This season, he handled 54.4% and 76.8% in Weeks 1 and 2 with 37 and 53 offensive snaps, respectively.

“This is our third game,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “I think he’s at that point where we’re pretty much playing this thing out at this point. It was good those first two weeks just to be aware of it and then also trust Zeke’s response and how he feels and all those things and just balancing that stuff out.”

Twenty-six of Elliott’s 37 snaps in Week 1 against the New York Giants occurred in the first half. At halftime, Cowboys coaches saw that number and decided to ease off some. The score facilitated their plan; the running back’s only two snaps during the fourth quarter came in the victory formation of a 35-17 win.

In Week 2, 30 of his 53 snaps came in the first half. Again, coaches decided to dial him back. Rookie Tony Pollard, who played merely two snaps in the first half, handled 12 to Elliott’s seven in the third quarter. Dallas then leaned on Elliott in the four-minute offense, closing out the Washington Redskins with Elliott seeing 16 snaps to Pollard’s two in the fourth quarter.

Pollard will remain involved even as Elliott ramps up further. But Elliott’s return to football shape naturally will lead to fewer moments in which coaches keep Elliott on the sideline for prolonged periods.

“We still feel great about Zeke,” Moore said. “We were just making sure we don’t overdo it in the second game back. It was perfect. Tony got in there, started playing. Get Zeke back in there, kind of balancing back and forth. I think it ended up pretty balanced and pretty on point as far as play snaps that we would have loved to have.”

Locate a flathead screwdriver. Turn it lefty loosey. Pull apart the training-wheel bars.

Watch him go.